AI in Optometry: Responsible Adoption and Future Outlook

Optometry Australia recently issued a comprehensive position statement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optometry, emphasising the technology's increasing role in diagnostics, treatment, and patient management. This guidance, developed in collaboration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), aims to ensure that optometrists integrate AI into their practices responsibly, maintaining professional standards and patient safety as new technologies evolve.

AI has shown significant promise in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in eye care. Advanced AI-driven tools are already being used in retinal imaging, glaucoma detection, and monitoring conditions like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These tools can analyse vast amounts of data quickly and with high precision, providing optometrists with insights that support earlier diagnosis and personalised treatment plans.

To ensure the safe and ethical adoption of AI, Optometry Australia’s guidance aligns closely with Ahpra’s regulatory framework on technology use in healthcare. This includes considerations around data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and patient consent. Optometrists incorporating AI into their practice are urged to be vigilant about how data is collected and used, ensuring that any AI tool employed adheres to the highest standards of privacy and security.

AI represents an exciting frontier for optometry, offering potential benefits in diagnostics and treatment. However, as Optometry Australia emphasizes, adopting AI responsibly is key to ensuring patient safety and maintaining the profession’s high standards of care​.