Computationally efficient deep learning models for diabetic retinopathy detection: a systematic literature review

Diabetic retinopathy, often resulting from conditions like diabetes and hypertension, is a leading cause of blindness globally. With diabetes affecting millions worldwide and anticipated to rise significantly, early detection becomes paramount. The survey scrutinizes existing literature, revealing a noticeable absence of consideration for computational complexity aspects in deep learning models. Notably, most researchers concentrate on employing deep learning models, and there is a lack of comprehensive surveys on the role of vision transformers in enhancing the efficiency of these models for DR detection. This study stands out by presenting a systematic review, exclusively considering 84 papers published in reputable academic journals to ensure a focus on mature research. The distinctive feature of this Systematic Literature Review (SLR) lies in its thorough investigation of computationally efficient approaches and models for DR detection. It sheds light on the incorporation of vision transformers into deep learning models, highlighting their significant contribution to improving accuracy. Moreover, the research outlines clear objectives related to the identified problem, giving rise to specific research questions. Following an assessment of relevant literature, data is extracted from digital archives. Additionally, in light of the results obtained from this SLR, a taxonomy for the detection of diabetic retinopathy has been presented. The study also highlights key research challenges and proposes potential avenues for further investigation in the field of detecting diabetic retinopathy.