The role of automated grading of diabetic retinopathy in a primary care screening programme

Abstract

Systematic screening for diabetic eye disease has been identified as a cost-effective use of resources. With the prevalence of diabetes increasing steadily, it is important that efficient screening services are in place to meet the increasing demand.

One-field automated grading was compared with manual disease/no disease grading using reference graded photographic retinal images from 6,722 consecutive patients in Grampian. The costs and cost savings to the NHS associated with both approaches were estimated and compared.