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Topcon and Orbis International Join Forces to Expand Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Rwanda

Topcon is donating ophthalmic cameras and supporting screening centers to
allow Orbis to make eye care more accessible, thus reducing avoidable vision loss

OAKLAND, NJ – Topcon Healthcare, a leading provider of medical devices and software solutions for the global eye care community, has joined forces with Orbis International, a global nonprofit organization delivering sight-saving programs in over 200 countries and territories, and the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) to expand diabetic retinopathy screening in Rwanda.

Topcon has donated NW400 and NW500 robotic retinal cameras for use in much-needed diabetic retinopathy screenings for patients with diabetes in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

“Access to regular diabetic retinopathy screenings is important to catch the disease early, before permanent vision loss, or even blindness, occurs,” said Prof. Ciku Mathenge, Medical Advisor, Orbis International and RIIO Founding Director. “We are proud to partner with Topcon, whose donation will make diabetic retinopathy screening more accessible to patients in Kigali, Rwanda, and prevent future vision loss. We are grateful for their generosity and commitment to increasing access to eye care around the world.”

Etienne Uwingabire, Senior Nurse and Director of the Rwanda Diabetes Association, screens a patient with Topcon’s NW400 Retinal Camera.
Photo: OrbisInternational/Serrah Galos

Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of vision loss among working-age people globally. Of note, the largest projected increase in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is expected to occur in sub-Saharan Africa.¹ There are 300,000 people² in Rwanda currently living with diabetes, and approximately 1 in 3 (100,000) are likely to develop diabetic retinopathy.¹ The prevalence of diabetes combined with the severe shortage of medical personnel in the region – there are only 2.7 ophthalmologists per million people in sub-Saharan Africa³ – makes diabetic retinopathy screening in this area a critical and valuable initiative. Annual screening programs supporting early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy are paramount. Such screening programs have been shown to effectively reduce the incidence and progression of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy despite the resources, infrastructure, and personnel challenges.

The partnership is guided by the promising results of Orbis’s recently published research⁴ in Rwanda, which demonstrated increased referral compliance and high patient satisfaction when receiving immediate results via Cybersight AI screening for diabetic retinopathy.

Peter van der Ree, Senior Sales Director, Distributor Sales EMEA for Topcon Europe Medical, was instrumental in launching the partnership. He commented, “We are very excited about our partnership with Orbis. It has the potential to significantly impact the early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Rwanda. The combination of Topcon’s robotic retinal imaging technology with AI image analysis will provide sight-saving services for the people of Rwanda and help prevent vision loss from diabetes.”

About Topcon Healthcare, Inc

Topcon Healthcare, Inc. is part of Topcon Corporation (TSE 7732). Our vision is to improve access and quality of healthcare while decreasing the overall cost. To achieve this mission, we have established Harmony, a platform to accelerate the evolution of AI-powered algorithms that enable the detection of systemic, neurologic, and ophthalmic disease markers even before discernable symptoms are present. Topcon Healthcare, Inc. is investing in innovators focused on healthcare transformation with an emphasis on AI-powered solutions. This new digital strategy is called Healthcare from the Eye ™, a connected care ecosystem using AI-powered disease detection and management applied to noninvasive retinal imaging.

A truly global business, Topcon Corporation is focused on developing solutions to solve societal challenges in the megadomains of healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. In healthcare, these challenges include increasing eye disease, rising medical costs, physician shortages, and unequal access to healthcare. By investing in value-driven innovations, Topcon Corporation works to help people enjoy good health and a better quality of life.

About Orbis International

Orbis is an international nonprofit delivering sight-saving programs in over 200 countries and territories worldwide so that individuals, families, and communities can thrive. Currently, around 1 billion people across the globe live with completely avoidable blindness and vision loss. For over four decades, Orbis has been tackling this challenge by building strong and sustainable eye care systems that leave a lasting legacy of vision. Orbis runs dedicated in- country programs in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America; develops and implements innovative training and technology, including an award-winning telemedicine and e-learning platform, Cybersight; and operates the world’s first and only Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft. For the past 11 consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator‘s coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. For the past three years, Orbis has earned GuideStar‘s platinum Seal of Transparency. Since 2022, Orbis has earned “accredited charity” status from the Better Business Bureau by meeting all 20 of their standards for charity accountability. To learn more, please visit orbis.org.