For some, artificial intelligence (AI) represents the promise of enhanced productivity. For others, it’s met with caution and concern. 

To find out where optical stands, we invited three thought leaders representing different areas of vision and vision care to share their perspectives on the potential impact AI will have on both the profession and patients. They are:

→ Ronald Benner, O.D., president of the American Optometric Association

→ Howard Purcell, O.D., FAAO, president of New England College of Optometry

→ Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness

The Big Picture

It’s important to look at the big picture, says Dr. Purcell. “Hybrid intelligence (HI) will provide us and our patients with the most value, combining all the strengths of human intelligence with the incredible power of artificial intelligence. As we focus on the development of AI, we must also assure we are contemplating HI.”

One benefit, adds Todd, will be AI’s reach. “Being able to use artificial intelligence to diagnose, for example, retinal disease in a patient living with diabetes can be transformative,” he says. “This is particularly true for patients in communities that lack direct access to an eyecare provider.” 

That being said, “Embracing the potential requires a careful balance between technological advancement and preserving the invaluable ‘human touch’ in patient care,” stresses Dr. Purcell.

It’s also imperative to consider patient privacy, adds Todd. “We need to be wary of ethical concerns that AI may create, such as inadvertent sharing of personal health data, as well as how public policy around regulatory frameworks can keep up with the rapid acceleration of AI technology.” 

Clearly, there are short- and long-term impacts AI is likely to have on the industry in general and optometry in particular. Here’s what these experts say about some of them.

Short-Term Impacts

“Today, we are seeing practices use AI for some administrative work to free up staff and doctor time,” says Dr. Benner. “We are seeing some improved diagnoses, as well. There is a challenge that we are evaluating, however, which is the accuracy and usability of these multiple AI tools in real time, as most of the entities creating the technology or doing the programming are also verifying the data.” 

Longer-Term Impacts

“Some of the most promising…improvements from advanced AI,” explains Dr. Benner, “will be the ability for doctors of optometry to interact with patients’ electronic health records in…a quicker, more intuitive manner that will enable more quality time with the patient, better diagnostics, and, ultimately, better outcomes.”

One caveat? “A potential downfall could be the dehumanization of eye care,” warns Todd. “The use of AI could theoretically become a ‘middleman,’ interfering with direct communications between a provider and their patient.”

Boundaries and Benefits

The bottom line? “We must participate and collaborate with AI developers and experts,” concludes Dr. Purcell, “to assure we are aware, involved, and create regulatory boundaries.”

Todd agrees, adding, “AI policy needs to move swiftly and should leverage the expertise of health care organizations and patient advocacy groups to ensure patient safety, privacy, and access always remain at the center of decision-making.”