Auckland ophthalmologist Dr David Squirrell is leading the charge to save the eyesight of New Zealand diabetes patients through the development of AI technology.

Along with his team at Toku Eyes, Dr Squirrell has developed artificial intelligence software to help screen for diabetic retinopathy. This is a vital step to preventing visual impairment and irreversible sight loss.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults, but 40 percent of diabetic patients in New Zealand are still not being screened for diabetic retinopathy.

Toku Eyes hopes to encourage more people to get screened by making the process faster, more accessible, and even more accurate.

Listen to this RNZ interview when Kathryn Ryan speaks with Dr David Squirrell, chair of the Northern Region Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Governance Committee.