The deployment is part of a pilot project focused on improving diabetic care and preventing blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to severe vision impairment or even complete blindness. The fundus cameras enable healthcare providers to detect retinal complications early, which is essential given that routine screenings for diabetes-related retinal damage are not widely available in Uzbekistan.

Under this initiative, all patients in the four pilot districts with type 2 diabetes will undergo diabetic retinopathy screening. Those diagnosed with the condition will be referred to specialized eye microsurgery centers in Guliston or Tashkent for laser correction. This collaborative project is managed by the WHO, the World Diabetes Foundation, and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health.

According to Vision Atlas, affiliated with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, over 3.3 million people in Uzbekistan suffer from visual impairment, with 94,000 individuals experiencing total blindness due to various causes, including diabetic retinopathy.