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AI Sees: India Tackles Infant Blindness
18 Nov, 2025
Summary
- KIDROP, an ROP program, now spans 190 NICUs nationwide.
- Over 390,000 screenings performed, preventing thousands of blindness cases.
- India's first AI ROP imaging device, Neubo 130, was unveiled.
The KIDROP initiative, originating as a public-private partnership with the Karnataka government, has grown into one of India's largest tele-ROP networks. It now provides screening across 190 neonatal intensive care units nationwide, extending its reach beyond Karnataka. This program has already conducted over 392,000 screening sessions, examining more than 118,000 infants and preventing irreversible blindness in thousands.
The recent unveiling of India's first AI-enabled ROP imaging device, the Neubo 130, marks a significant advancement. Developed collaboratively by KIDROP and Remidio Innovative Solutions, this device leverages KIDROP's extensive image database to automatically detect and grade ROP. Its portable, low-cost design makes it suitable for mass screening in diverse settings.
KIDROP's success, highlighted on World Retinopathy of Prematurity Day, demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in improving neonatal eye care. The program's vision is to scale this model nationally, ensuring equitable access to timely screening and a brighter future for all newborns, regardless of their background.
