The integration of technology within the eyecare sector has transformed both optometry and ophthalmology, offering increased accuracy in diagnostic procedures, therapeutic interventions, and patient rehabilitation. From employing artificial intelligence (AI) for the early identification of ocular conditions via medical imaging to streamlining office management, technology serves as a vital resource for ODs to process information with greater speed and precision. Recent advancements in technology have expanded healthcare access through telehealth and enabled more efficient vision correction and early disease diagnosis.
Technology now spans nearly every facet of optometric practice, from enhancing patient care to optimizing practice management. The integration of modern tools and AI has simplified the ways in which clinicians diagnose pathologies, manage ocular conditions, maintain patient communication, and oversee administrative workflows.
The AOA’s Innovations in Care Committee educates ODs on the latest technology so members can enhance the care they provide and position their practices for success.
Chris Wroten, OD.
“We all need to stay abreast of new and emerging technologies in eyecare, because not only do they have the potential to enhance clinical outcomes and improve quality of life for our patients, but they also have the potential to streamline our treatment protocols and/or enhance our own career satisfaction, depending on what’s involved,” said Chris Wroten, OD, who practices at Hammond Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic in southeast Louisiana and serves as co-chair of the AOA’s Innovations in Care Committee. “Most of us struggle to vet new technologies, to analyze costs and to determine what makes the most sense in our individual clinics.”
A 2025 review article in the journal Clinical Optometry noted, “With the global shortage of eyecare professionals and the increasing burden of vision impairment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to bridge gaps in eyecare services. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) over recent decades have significantly impacted healthcare, including the field of optometry. When integrated into optometric workflows, AI has the potential to streamline decision-making processes and enhance system efficiency.”
“Artificial Intelligence is now such a broad term that it’s difficult to discuss it generally. AI has been incorporated into eyecare for decades in some form or fashion (ie, guided progression analysis, the red-green-yellow TSNIT curves on optic nerve OCT, topographic algorithm analysis for keratoconus, etc.),” said Dr. Wroten. “With GPT applications, we’ve already seen significant adoption of AI to enhance clinical diagnosis and management of ocular diseases and disorders, and with chatbots and other technology offering AI scribes and AI chatbots to answer phones and guide online scheduling.”
He continued, “At the end of the day, clinical AI will grow into even more of a ‘must have’ for doctors of optometry as it can quickly analyze data from multiple pieces of equipment to enhance diagnosis and management of disease, as well as for practice owners when it comes to practice management.”
AI and Privacy
Dr. Wroten believes the implementation of AI in optometry is complicated by privacy worries, as a lack of trust persists and is a significant hurdle for many practitioners and their teams.
“Privacy concerns remain valid, as clinical AI can have access to sensitive and personally identifiable health information and should that information end up in the wrong hands, intentionally or unintentionally, patients could be at risk,” said Dr. Wroten. “Many AI companies have and/or are planning to incorporate more safeguards to protect that data, as Congress and state legislatures grapple with how best to mitigate those risks via statutes that incorporate best practices and mandate uniform policies across the industry.”
Dr. Wroten emphasized that, despite these hurdles involving advancing technology, it is essential to confront and resolve these issues to maintain the trajectory of delivering superior patient care.
“Technology continues to enhance patient care by allowing earlier detection of eye disease, better monitoring for disease progression, enhanced drug delivery, alternative routes of administration, and efficacy of care evaluation,” he said. “In the near term, I’m most excited about new AI-based diagnostic technologies that can instantly analyze far more diagnostic and treatment efficacy data than the human mind can, couple that analysis with other medications a particular patient may be using, assess their genetic profile and/or their family and social history, and make proactive recommendations on what therapy offers the best chance for success.”
According to Dr. Wroten, the development of new and enhanced medications alongside gene and cell therapies is currently underway, promising to lower the treatment demands for individuals with chronic conditions like diabetic changes, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Furthermore, AI-driven design tools have produced an innovative vortex-designed multifocal lens, which could be utilized in intraocular implants, contact lenses and glasses.
Ongoing clinical trials for new medications may shortly provide oral and topical alternatives for managing macular edema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and various inherited retinal diseases. Additionally, AI-centered algorithms are already being used to improve the management of amblyopia, evaluate and prescribe vision therapy, and support a better quality of life for those living with low vision.
“Ultimately, the future of eyecare is full of exciting opportunities for those willing to embrace them,” said Dr. Wroten.
