Artificial intelligence is moving from the realm of science fiction into everyday healthcare and optometry is becoming an important part of that shift.
From analyzing retinal images to improving medical imaging, Al is already being used and studied in eye care. The FDA maintains a list of Al-enabled medical devices authorized for marketing in the United States, including devices in the ophthalmic category.
So what does Al actually mean for optometry practices?
Al Is Already Helping Analyze Eye Images
One of the most established applications of Al in eye care is image analysis.
FDA-authorized retinal diagnostic software can use artificial intelligence to analyze digital fundus images and identify whether a patient has referable diabetic retinopathy.
This is an important distinction: Al isn’t necessarily replacing the eye care professional. Instead, it can provide another tool for identifying patterns in medical images and helping determine which patients may need additional evaluation.
The FDA identifies several potential applications for Al-enabled medical devices, including image acquisition and processing, early disease detection, diagnosis, risk assessment, and identifying patterns associated with disease progression.
Al Is Also Changing Retinal Imaging
Al isn’t only being used to analyze images after they are captured. Researchers are exploring how it can improve the imaging process itself.
In 2024, researchers at the National Eye Institute reported an Al technique that made a specialized retinal imaging process approximately 100 times faster than the manual method while improving image contrast by about 3.5 times.
The research focused on adaptive optics optical coherence tomography (AO-OCT), which can produce highly detailed images of retinal cells. Researchers believe advances like these could make sophisticated retinal imaging more practical for future clinical applications.
It’s an example of how Al could do more than simply interpret information. It could help make the process of collecting that information faster and more useful.
Al Could Support Earlier Detection
The potential for earlier detection is another reason Al is attracting attention in eye care.
Al systems can be trained to recognize patterns in medical images that may be associated with disease. The FDA specifically identifies early disease detection and risk assessment among potential applications for Al-enabled medical devices.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute are also studying Al applications for detecting serious eye conditions. NEI research has included Al systems for detecting severe retinopathy of prematurity and studies examining whether Al-assisted eye exams can increase diabetic eye screening rates among young people with diabetes.
These applications demonstrate an important possibility: Al could help practices identify patients who may benefit from additional evaluation while supporting the clinician’s decision-making process.
What About Al Outside the Exam?
Al’s potential isn’t limited to diagnostics.
Healthcare organizations are also exploring Al for tasks such as information processing, clinical decision support, and automating certain aspects of medical practice. The FDA is researching Al applications that could improve and automate medical practices, including technologies for diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, image acquisition, and treatment-response prediction.
For optometry practices, that could eventually mean using Al to reduce some of the repetitive work surrounding patient care and practice management.
The goal isn’t to add technology simply because it is new. The goal is to use technology where it can solve a real problem.
Al Still Needs Human Oversight
As exciting as these developments are, Al isn’t a replacement for clinical expertise.
Al-enabled medical devices are designed for specific intended uses, and their performance can be affected by changes in data, patient populations, and clinical environments. The FDA specifically studies how to monitor Al systems after they are deployed because their performance can change as real-world conditions change.
The American Optometric Association has also made Al a significant topic within the profession. At Optometry’s Meeting 2026, an AOA panel discussed how Al, predictive technologies, and emerging diagnostic tools are reshaping healthcare delivery in optometry. The panel also emphasized that technology alone won’t solve workflow challenges.
That means the future of Al in optometry isn’t simply about having more technology.
It’s about using the right technology in the right way.
What Does Al Mean for the Future of Optometry?
Al is still developing, but its role in eye care is becoming increasingly tangible.
Today, Al is helping researchers improve retinal imaging and is being incorporated into certain authorized medical devices. Tomorrow, it may play a larger role in diagnostics, monitoring, documentation, and other parts of the patient experience.
For optometry practices, the most important question isn’t:
“How do we start using AI?”
It’s:
“What problems could Al help us solve?”
When implemented thoughtfully, technology can give clinicians better information, help practices work more efficiently, and ultimately create more opportunities to focus on the patient.
The future of optometry won’t be defined by technology alone. It will be defined by how effectively technology and clinical expertise work together.
Sources
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Medical Devices
- FDA — AI/ML-Based Medical Devices Research Program
- National Eye Institute — AI Makes Retinal Imaging 100 Times Faster
- National Eye Institute — AI Research News
- American Optometric Association — Highlights from Optometry’s Meeting 2026
