DRSplus AI Enhancing Diabetes Screening & Reducing Backlogs

Diabetic retinopathy remains one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss worldwide. Early detection is incredibly important. However, in overstretched clinics and community settings, capacity often dictates care, meaning that symptoms are missed, and people aren’t getting the treatment they need, when they need it.  The iCare DRSplus Fundus Imaging System is already established across Europe with its tried-and-tested Illume AI software, which is aiding diagnosis and allowing clinicians to see more patients, more confidently, all without compromising on care.  But what is Illume, and what exactly does it do? In this blog, we’ll dive into iCare’s revolutionary AI technology, discussing the impact it’s already having on patient care and the lives of people living with diabetes.

Speeding up screening, not skipping steps

The iCare DRSplus captures high-quality fundus images in just a few seconds, with no need for dilation in most patients. This alone makes it a fantastic option for community clinics and diagnostic hubs, where throughput and patient comfort are top priorities. But when we pair the DRSplus with Illume AI, it truly comes to life.  DRSplus with Illume uploads each image to the cloud for instant AI review. Within moments, the system generates a report flagging signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma. https://www.main-line.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/mainline-blog-1.pnghttps://www.main-line.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/mainline-2.png This report was generated automatically by Illume AI. The scan takes less than a minute. The report is generated moments later. For diabetic patients, the report uses a simple grading system:

• No diabetic retinopathy (DR)
• Mild
• Moderate
• Severe
• Proliferative

This grading system directly informs referral pathways, helping clinicians determine who needs to be seen sooner and who can safely wait. In practical terms, it means clinicians could screen up to 50 patients per day with high diagnostic confidence, supported by reproducible, evidence-based grading. The DRSplus with Illume is one of the most potent diagnostic aids that any clinician could ask for.  You can see how the DRSplus produces results in under a minute here:

Proven performance, backed by research

A recent large-scale evaluation in the English Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) programme confirmed what users across Europe already knew: the Illume AI works, and it’s incredibly useful.  In a study of nearly 10,000 screening episodes:

• Illume achieved 95.4% sensitivity and 92.0% specificity when distinguishing mild from significant DR
• There were no missed cases of significant DR
• Most discrepancies involved the AI being more cautious, where it would “overgrade” rather than underestimate risk

In short, it doesn’t replace human decision-making, but it’s an incredibly reliable aid. Especially in stretched settings where a fast, accurate second opinion is worth its weight in gold.

Smoother workflows, shorter waits, and smarter screening

The DRSplus isn’t just a highly capable imaging system. It’s a workflow solution, built to help busy clinics handle more patients, more efficiently. By pairing the DRSplus with Illume’s AI-driven image grading, clinicians can work through screening appointments faster without compromising clinical safety. The system delivers consistent, high-quality images, immediately ready for review.  No waiting for dilation. No chasing specialist availability for manual grading. Just fast, frictionless care. That means:

• Shorter appointment times – Patients are in and out in minutes
• Rapid report turnaround – AI-generated reports are available almost instantly
• Reduced clinician burden – Freeing up staff for complex cases, not basic triage
• Built-in second opinion – Giving practitioners an extra layer of diagnostic confidence
• Minimised human error – Standardised assessments reduce the risk of missed signs

For services tackling backlogs, these efficiencies are significant. As mentioned above, in some settings, screening throughput has increased to up to 50 patients per day, without overwhelming staff or resources. And for patients? The experience is faster, simpler, and more comfortable. Many can avoid eye drops altogether. Feedback suggests that appointments feel less clinical and more routine, making them far less daunting for those new to screening or wary of hospitals. In short, it’s the kind of upgrade that benefits every stakeholder: clinicians, administrators, and, most importantly, patients.

Eye care has changed – are you keeping up?

The eye care AI revolution isn’t coming. It’s already here.  Practices around the world are already using AI to dramatically speed up their diagnostic process, improving patient care as a result and ensuring that nothing is missed.  It’s now here in the UK, and it’s already making waves. Don’t get left behind – book a demo today to see what the DRSplus could do for you, whether that’s in private practice or public healthcare, AI’s truly making a positive difference.  Want to learn more about the DRSplus or our range of AI-enabled instruments? Click the links below.  Learn about the DRSplus. Learn about the Optomed Aurora IQ