Eyes on Equity: Professor Yogesan Kanagasingam brings sight-saving screening to remote communities
A visionary collaboration between Australian and Indian partners is changing how sight-threatening eye conditions are detected – using WA-led artificial intelligence innovation and a commitment to reaching the most underserved.
Led by WA 2015 Australian of the Year finalist and Auspire Ambassador, Professor Yogesan ‘Yogi’ Kanagasingam, Chair of Digital Health and Telemedicine at the University of Notre Dame, recent pilot programs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and in Tamil Nadu, India, are showcasing the future of equitable eye care: portable, AI-powered, and community-centred.
In the Kimberley, Professor Yogesan collaborated with the Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH) and TeleMedC Pty Ltd to evaluate an AI-based eye screening system in two of the most remote Aboriginal communities – Muludja and Bawoorrooga, over 2,500 km from Perth. With population densities below 0.1 people per square kilometre and limited access to specialist care, many residents had never received an eye examination despite a high prevalence of diabetes and other risk factors for vision loss.
The initiative assessed the effectiveness of a culturally adapted screening platform capable of detecting multiple conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, cataract, keratitis (corneal infection), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. More than just a technology trial, the project was co-designed with community leaders and local health workers to ensure the model of care was respectful, practical, and sustainable. The AI worked alongside clinicians to support early detection and timely referral, improving access and outcomes for patients in some of the country’s most underserved areas.
In India, the collaboration was undertaken with Aravind Eye Hospital – one of the world’s largest eye care networks, which sees over 8.5 million patients annually. There, the Australian-developed AI was tested at scale in real-world clinical settings, validating its potential to assist frontline staff in identifying high-risk patients for timely referral.
Both initiatives demonstrated how portable AI-based diagnostics can increase access, reduce waiting times, and identify preventable vision loss earlier – especially in regions where traditional specialist care is out of reach.
“We’re not replacing human expertise,” Professor Yogesan emphasises. “We’re augmenting it – bringing tools that can work anywhere, powered by the same intelligence that guides modern medicine, but tailored to the people who need it most.”
The early results are promising: high sensitivity and specificity in disease detection, high rates of community acceptance, and strong clinical engagement across both sites.
These pilot projects were supported by a $1.3 million grant from the Australia–India Strategic Research Fund, jointly administered by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and India’s Department of Science and Technology. This cross-border partnership underscores a shared commitment to scalable digital health innovation that leaves no one behind.
By uniting technology with cultural respect and global cooperation, this work is building a new benchmark in ethical, AI-driven healthcare – where even the most remote communities can receive world-class screening and care.
Professor Yogesan’s work exemplifies the spirit of innovation, equity and service that defines WA’s contribution to national and global health.