Can a retinal image offer insights into a person’s blood sugar health without a blood draw? A new pilot initiative in Mumbai is exploring that possibility by bringing AI-enabled retinal screening into community spaces during the Ganpati festival.
Eyebetes Foundation, in collaboration with Forus Health, will conduct free diabetes screening, eye assessments, and preventive healthcare awareness activities at Siddhivinayak Temple and GSB Ganpati Mandal. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 15,000 devotees.
At the centre of the pilot is Forus Health’s AI-enabled retinal screening technology, including FH-POISE AI, which uses retinal images to generate insights associated with diabetes risk and estimate HbA1c levels without requiring a blood draw or laboratory processing.
The approach draws on the retina’s role as a window into the body’s microvascular system. Diabetes can cause changes in small retinal blood vessels, and AI can analyse complex patterns in retinal images to identify associations that may support preliminary risk assessment.
“With FH-POISE AI solutions, we are exploring how a simple retinal image can provide insights that traditionally require a blood test. Our AI models can estimate HbA1c levels and flag diabetes risk from a single retinal image, without the need for a blood draw or laboratory processing. The retina gives us a unique, non-invasive view of the body’s microvascular health, and AI can help translate these insights into meaningful screening support,” said Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research & Development, Forus Health.
Dr. Nishant Kumar, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Retina Surgeon and Uveitis Specialist and Founder, Eyebetes Foundation, said, “Diabetes is no longer only a metabolic concern; it is a major public health challenge with consequences that can affect the eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves and overall quality of life.”
He added that while the technology is evolving and should complement conventional blood testing and clinical diagnosis, developing Indian datasets and taking such innovation into community settings could be significant for preventive healthcare.
The pilot highlights how retinal imaging and AI could potentially create an additional, accessible screening touchpoint beyond conventional healthcare facilities.
