AI changes the way how eye care specialists work

The right diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. However, in ophthalmology, the right diagnosis can be a very tricky thing: an eye care specialist has to explore a number of ophthalmic images of the retina before making a conclusion. Apart from medical images, a patient undergoes different diagnostic procedures, yet the retina scan remains to be the core of diagnostics.

Today there is a variety of ophthalmic images that can help in diagnostics, yet optical coherence tomography (OCT) is praised for its non-invasiveness and accuracy.  OCT scans interpretation, thus, becomes the skill that each eye care specialist has to master. To become a true professional in retina scan interpretation an eye care specialist has to study for years, read many atlases, and listen to webinars. In the end, experience comes with real practice. In the end, practice will play a major role in the success of accurate OCT scan interpretation.

However, artificial intelligence can assist eye care specialists with OCT scan interpretation by highlighting pathologies and pathological signs automatically. Eye care specialists can never miss minor, early, or rare pathologies if they have a backup tool working along with them. Artificial Intelligence helps eye care specialists to be more confident and to pay more attention to the tasks that AI can never do: talking to patients, emphasizing with patients, and being supportive.

However, some eye care specialists might feel threatened that AI can take their jobs which is absolute nonsense because AI can only operate with a human being in a team. Eye care professionals will always remain at the center of diagnostics. However, equipped with AI they feel more confident and more ready to meet new challenges.

Artificial Intelligence is definitely the future of diagnostics in any sphere, and in ophthalmology in particular. It brings accuracy, confidence, and effectiveness.