Focus on Eyes: Eye doctors use artificial intelligence to help with diagnoses, surgeries
New applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine appear every day in the news.
Ophthalmologists at many university eye centers are investigating the use of AI in the diagnoses, treatments and research of eye diseases.
Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by elevated pressure inside the eye, resulting in damage to the optic nerve, which interferes with the optic nerve's ability to send images from the eye to the brain.
Optic nerve damage causes gradual loss of peripheral vision and eventually central vision.
AI algorithms can analyze images of the optic nerve and visual field to detect signs of glaucoma.
By identifying subtle changes in the optic nerve, AI can assist in the early diagnosis of glaucoma, allowing for prompt treatment to prevent any visual loss.
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AI can review the patient’s medical history and other relevant data to generate personalized treatment plans for glaucoma management.
This may include determining the most appropriate medication regimen, scheduling follow-up evaluations, and adjusting treatment strategies based on the individual’s responses.
Retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can benefit from image recognition AI.
For example, retinal images and OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans are analyzed using machine learning to identify patterns associated with macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
These AI algorithms can provide the diagnoses of retinal diseases, classification of the severity, and recommendations for monitoring and treatments.
AI can assist in teaching eye surgery by providing educational tools and resources for both residents and experienced ophthalmologists.
AI powered simulation platforms allow surgeons to practice various eye surgical processes in a realistic controlled environment.
The simulation provides hands-on experience and feedback to help surgeons develop and refine their skills.
In actual eye surgery, AI can provide real time guidance and feedback to the surgeon. By interpreting intraoperative data and images, AI algorithms can offer suggestions, highlight important anatomical structures, and alert the surgeon of potential risks or complications.
AI can help ophthalmologists analyze data, detect diseases, recommend personalized treatments and plan surgeries with greater precision and better outcomes.
For full disclosure, this article was prepared with the assistance of AI.
Dr. Frederick Ho, the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Eye doctors use artificial intelligence to help with diagnoses, surgeries
