World First: Babies Screened for Blindness Using AI in Mongolia

In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Orbis and eye care partner Siloam Vision are screening premature babies for a leading cause of childhood blindness with the support of AI—marking a major step forward for neonatal eye care in low‑ and middle‑income countries.

Two women look at screens with images of eye screenings. — An eye care professional looks at images of an eye that was screened using Siloam's technology.

A mother and her premature baby waiting for a retinopathy of prematurity screening at Binh Dinh hospital in Vietnam

Retinopathy of Prematurity: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

At the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH), clinicians have begun using assistive AI to help detect retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a sight‑threatening condition that can progress quickly if not identified and treated early. Among the first babies screened were twins, Ariunnandin and Ariunbaatar, born prematurely and cared for in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Retinopathy of prematurity affects babies born too early, when the blood vessels in the retina have not fully developed. If ROP is not detected in time, it can lead to irreversible vision loss or blindness.

Early screening makes treatment possible—but in many countries, there are too few trained specialists to examine every at‑risk baby. This is where technology can help. By supporting doctors to review retinal images more quickly and consistently, AI can play an important role in expanding access to timely ROP screening.

Supporting clinicians with AI, not replacing them

The screening program in Mongolia uses Siloam Vision’s proprietary AI technology, delivered through a telemedicine platform that allows retinal images to be securely reviewed and supported remotely. The AI provides additional guidance to ophthalmologists, helping them prioritize cases and make faster clinical decisions — particularly in settings where specialist time is limited.

“Seeing the first babies screened in a Mongolian clinic is incredibly inspiring,” said Dr. Chimgee Chuluunkhuu, Orbis Mongolia Country Director. “With the country’s vast geography and low population density, Mongolia has both the greatest need and the greatest opportunity to use telemedicine and AI to support doctors in even the most rural areas. This program helps ensure that babies everywhere, not just in the capital, have access to early, life‑changing care.”

“With the country’s vast geography and low population density, Mongolia has both the greatest need and the greatest opportunity to use telemedicine and AI to support doctors in even the most rural areas. This program helps ensure that babies everywhere, not just in the capital, have access to early, life‑changing care.”

Dr. Chimgee Chuluunkhuu, Orbis Mongolia Country Director

Screenings are taking place at NCMCH in Ulaanbaatar, alongside hands‑on training for local ophthalmologists. Doctors from remote provinces are also being trained to use specialized retinal cameras that attach to a smartphone, allowing images to be captured locally and then sent to NCMCH for review via Siloam's telemedicine platform.

“This is an historic moment for eye care around the world,” said Karyn Jonas, Chief Development Officer at Siloam Vision. “By harnessing AI through Siloam’s telemedicine platform, we can train doctors across the country, support their diagnoses, and reach babies who might otherwise go undiagnosed.”

At NCMCH, AI‑enabled screening means results can be reviewed within seconds, rather than days—reducing delays and helping families move quickly to any follow‑up care their baby may need.

A Mother’s Relief

For Otgonchimeg, whose twins were among the first babies screened, the experience brought reassurance during a stressful time. Having previously worked at NCMCH herself, she understood how serious ROP can be for premature babies—and how important early screening is.

“With concerns about their oxygen use, I was worried about their eyesight,” she said. “As a mother, it was a great relief to hear that they were okay.”

A mother holds her twins in blue and pink blankets. — Mother Otgonchimeg holds her twin babies, who were screened for ROP using AI.

Building a Stronger Eye Care System

The program is led by the NCMCH and Orbis Mongolia teams and includes ongoing research alongside clinical training. Since the launch of AI‑supported screening, Orbis‑trained eye care professionals in Mongolia have carried out hundreds of exams on newborn babies—helping ensure more infants are identified early and referred for care when needed.

Eye care professionals at NCMCH are creating brighter futures.

“On a national and worldwide level, we are collaborating to introduce artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of retinopathy of prematurity,” said Dr. Tsengelmaa Chuluunbat, Head of Pediatric Ophthalmology at NCMCH. “We believe this reflects the combined efforts of our dedicated national and international team and will contribute to the scientific field of pediatric ophthalmology.”

By combining local expertise, telemedicine, and assistive AI, the project aims to strengthen ROP screening across the country—including in rural areas where access to specialist care has traditionally been limited.

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