Objective:

To evaluate whether an artificial intelligence–based optical coherence tomography (AI-OCT) system can improve diabetic macular edema (DME) triage when used as an add-on secondary screening tool.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• False-positive DME referral rate was 24% in the AI-OCT group compared to 69% in the standard-care group.
• Referral rate reduced from 100% to 39% under the AI-OCT pathway.
• Referral sensitivity was 100% in both groups.
• Referral specificity was 87% in the AI-OCT group compared to 0% in the control group.

Interpretation:

The AI-OCT system demonstrated a significant reduction in false-positive referrals compared to standard care.

Limitations:

• Validation study enrolled patients from a tertiary eye hospital, limiting generalizability.
• Study evaluated OCT scans from a single device manufacturer.
• Findings may not apply to broader diabetic retinopathy screening populations or other retinal diseases.
• Trial did not test real-world implementation.
• Referral decisions in the AI-OCT group were hypothetical as all patients underwent specialist assessment.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• JAMA
Source

Based on findings from:

AI Tool May Cut Macular Edema Referrals

Andrea Surnit. MDSpire News, 2026.

https://news.mdspire.com/endocrinology/articles/ai-tool-may-cut-macular-edema-referrals/

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