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New research · Ophthalmology
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 4d
AI / informaticsMedicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026

A Roadmap for National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Croatia: Integrating European Evidence, Telemedicine, and AI.

Toma Babić, Martina Tomić, Nenad Vukojević … Tea Čaljkušić Mance
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OphthalmologyAI / informatics

Pilot screening found diabetic retinopathy in 40% of screened Croatian type 2 diabetes patients.

A Roadmap for National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Croatia: Integrating European Evidence, Telemedicine, and AI.

Toma Babić … Tea Čaljkušić Mance
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026
Background

Diabetic retinopathy (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading cause of preventable blindness among working-age adults.

Purpose

This narrative review examines European diabetic retinopathy screening programmes, evaluates telemedicine and artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence) as enabling technologies, and proposes a phased roadmap for a national programme in Croatia.

Results
40%
eye exam found this share had diabetes-related retina damage
More results

The proposed programme combines decentralised telemedicine-based imaging at primary care sites with centralised grading, a staged rollout across three phases targeting 400,000 annual screenings, and stepwise artificial intelligence integration for triage.

More results

Successful European programmes share standardised digital imaging, trained grading workforces, embedded quality assurance, and registry linkage.

“
Conclusion

With dedicated funding and sustained political commitment, Croatia could adopt a hybrid telemedicine-artificial intelligence model and, under favourable implementation conditions, reduce the burden of advanced diabetic retinopathy over the coming decade.

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