Multi‐Deep Learning Approach With Transfer Learning for 7‐Stages Diabetic Retinopathy Classification

ABSTRACT Proposed novel investigation focused on leveraging an innovative diabetic retinopathy (DR) dataset comprising seven severity stages, an approach not previously examined. By capitalizing on this unique resource, this study′s findings set a new benchmark for DR classification, highlighting the transformative potential of incorporating advanced data into AI models. This study developed a Vgg16 transfer learning model and gauged its performance against established algorithms including Vgg‐19, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet. Remarkably, our results achieved accuracy rates of 96.95, 96.75, 96.09, and 92.96, respectively, emphasizing the contribution of our work. We strongly emphasized comprehensive severity rating, yielding perfect and impressive F1‐scores of 1.00 for “mild NPDR” and 97.00 for “no DR signs.” The Vgg16‐TL model consistently outperformed other models across all severity levels, reinforcing the value of our discoveries. Our deep learning training process, carefully selecting a learning rate of 1e‐05, allowed continuous refinements in training and validation accuracy. Beyond metrics, our investigation underscores the vital clinical importance of precise DR classification for preventing vision loss. This study conclusively establishes deep learning as a powerful transformative tool for developing effective DR algorithms with the potential to improve patient outcomes and advance ophthalmology standards.