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Expanding Access to Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Rwanda: Topcon Joins Forces with Orbis International and Rwanda International Institute to Combat Diabetic Retinopathy
Topcon Healthcare, a global leader in medical devices and software solutions for eye care, Orbis International, a global nonprofit organization, and Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) have joined forces to prevent irreversible vision loss and blindness among patients with diabetes in Kigali, Rwanda.
Topcon has donated NW400 and NW500 robotic retinal cameras to support diabetic retinopathy screenings. These advanced cameras will be instrumental in identifying diabetic retinopathy early, helping to prevent irreversible vision loss or blindness among patients with diabetes in Kigali.
Topcon’s Partnership with Orbis International and RIIO Combat Diabetic Retinopathy
Orbis International is known for working in over 200 countries, dedicating its work to eradicating avoidable blindness and vision loss. Topcon’s partnership with Orbis and RIIO is a remarkable milestone for increasing the long-term benefit of eye health in Rwanda and the region.
Professor Ciku Mathenge, Medical Advisor for Orbis International and Founding Director of RIIO, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Access to regular diabetic retinopathy screenings is important to catch the disease early, before permanent vision loss, or even blindness, occurs. We are proud to partner with Topcon, whose donation will make diabetic retinopathy screening more accessible to patients in Kigali, Rwanda, and prevent future vision loss. We are grateful for their generosity and commitment to increasing access to eye care around the world.”
The Growing Threat of Diabetic Retinopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults globally. The prevalence of this condition is expected to rise dramatically in sub-Saharan Africa, where healthcare resources are already stretched thin. In Rwanda alone, 300,000 people live with diabetes, and approximately 100,000 are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
The severe shortage of medical personnel in the region—only 2.7 ophthalmologists per million people—underscores the urgent need for widespread diabetic retinopathy screening. Annual screenings are vital in detecting and treating the disease early, thereby reducing the incidence and progression of sight-threatening complications.
Leveraging AI for Faster, More Accurate Diagnoses
The Topcon-Orbis-RIIO partnership is revolutionizing diabetic retinopathy screening in Rwanda by bringing patients to high-volume health clinics for retinal imaging with Topcon’s robotic cameras. These images are then analyzed by Cybersight AI, Orbis’s online artificial intelligence tool, which can detect signs of common eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, within seconds.
This rapid diagnostic capability is crucial in providing patients with immediate feedback and referrals for further evaluation and treatment if necessary. Traditionally, patients might wait days or weeks for results, often leading to missed follow-up care. The immediate turnaround offered by Cybersight AI ensures that more patients receive timely treatment, potentially saving their sight.
Promising Results and Future Impact
The success of this partnership is backed by recent research conducted by Orbis in Rwanda, which showed increased referral compliance and high patient satisfaction when results were delivered via Cybersight AI. These findings highlight the potential for AI-driven screening programs to significantly improve eye care outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Peter van der Ree, Senior Sales Director Distributor Sales EMEA for Topcon Europe Medical, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “We are very excited about our partnership with Orbis. It has the potential to significantly impact the early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Rwanda. The combination of Topcon’s robotic retinal imaging technology with AI image analysis will provide sight-saving services for the people of Rwanda and help prevent vision loss from diabetes.”
Learn More About Global Work in Eye Health
By partnering with Orbis International and the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology, Topcon is transforming eye care in Rwanda and helping to combat preventable blindness for thousands of individuals. To learn more about their groundbreaking global work in eye health and how you can support these initiatives, Visit the Orbis International and Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology websites. Together, we can create a world where everyone has access to quality eye care.
