New retinal screening for early detection of eye disease and cardiovascular risk

Veonet Ireland has announced the introduction of DR.NOON AI Software by HeartEye Diagnostics – an AI-powered retinal screening system capable of detecting early signs of cardiovascular and diabetic vascular risk from a single, non-invasive eye retinal scan.

At a time of high waiting lists for ophthalmology and cardiology, at 53,000 and 45,000 patients respectfully, DR.NOON offers a powerful preventive tool that can identify risk before symptoms appear. Built on clinically validated deep-learning algorithms, DR.NOON AI software analyses subtle vascular patterns in the retina to uncover early indications of systemic disease, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and microvascular changes associated with diabetes.

Retinal screening to detect eye disease

It delivers instant, AI-driven reports that match the outperform traditional methods in five-year cardiovascular risk prediction. This will include actionable insights for patients, identifying key risk indicators with personalised recommendations for lifestyle modification and disease management.

With World Diabetes Day approaching on 14 November, the timing could not be more relevant. Diabetes remains a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults, yet early detection can prevent over 90% of diabetes-related blindness, as it enables faster referral, timely treatment, and improved long-term outcomes for patients. Regular visits to your optometrist and enrolling in the Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme are as important as attending your diabetic clinic appointments. This is due to the increased risk of glaucoma, cataract and diabetic eye disease as a result of a diabetes diagnosis.

“Diabetes, heart disease and vision loss are deeply interconnected, yet often diagnosed too late,” explains Dr. Farah Ibrahim, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Veonet Ireland. “DR.NOON AI software changes that landscape – predicting cardiovascular risk for patients through a simple eye scan. This is preventive care in action: faster insights, earlier intervention, and ultimately, fewer patients joining already overstretched waiting lists.”

To mark its Irish debut, DR.NOON will be showcased at Veonet Ireland’s upcoming CPD-accredited event, The Future of Vision: Emerging Advancements in Diabetic Eye Disease, taking place in Cork this Thursday, 13 November. The session will bring together optometrists, nurses, pharmacists and ophthalmic technicians to explore developments in diabetes eye management & experience how AI-driven innovation can reshape multidisciplinary diabetic eye care.

You can learn more about the event, and reserve your spot in person or online, here.

About Veonet Ireland

Part of Veonet, Europe’s leading ophthalmology group, Veonet Ireland is dedicated to delivering world-class, affordable, and accessible specialist eye care across Ireland. Founded by renowned ophthalmologists who recognised the value of sharing expertise, networking, and best practices, Veonet continues to advance the quality of ophthalmic care for patients across Europe.

Veonet Ireland provides a supportive and positive environment where specialists and staff can grow both personally and professionally. Being a clinically led organisation, it empowers ophthalmologists to shape services and procedures in line with the highest clinical standards.

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