As health care enters the digital era, AI and telemedicine are transforming eye care, making it smarter, faster, and more accessible. These two adjacent technologies are independently powerful, yet when combined, their impact on patient care becomes greater than the sum of their parts.
Telemedicine has opened up new ways to extend eye care beyond traditional clinic walls. From video consultations to handheld diagnostic tools, telemedicine enables patients to receive quality eye care from the comfort of their homes. But, let’s be honest, telemedicine in eye care hasn’t always had it easy. At the start of the pandemic, eye care providers had limited tools for remote care. I remember colleagues adapting in creative ways, some even doing drive-through IOP checks in parking lots and performing a slit lamp exam with an iPhone! Let’s just say it highlighted the need for better tools.
Telemedicine Can Be Asynchronous or Synchronous
Eye care adapted quickly, though. First came asynchronous care, where patients’ diagnostic data, such as retinal images, are captured and reviewed later. Teleretinal screening programs, which have supported rural communities for decades make eye care accessible even when specialists couldn’t be there in person. Through the use of retinal AI, companies such as Digital Diagnostics, AEYE Health, Eyenuk, and others are leaders in this segment.
The next big development was synchronous remote care, where patients visit a clinic without an on-site doctor, but they connect with a provider over video. With a technician’s help, doctors can remotely control diagnostic devices, performing a thorough exam from afar. Companies such as Digital Optometrics are leading this model, making virtual exams more seamless and interactive.
AI Will Impact Telemedicine’s Third Wave
Now, we’re approaching what I think of as the third wave: small, smart, and connected AI-enabled devices that can be sent to patients. While AI has supported asynchronous and synchronous models, this third wave is where AI can make the biggest impact.
Imagine a patient with wet AMD, worried about new retinal fluid. AI could analyze their home-based OCT scan, either reassuring them or prompting a clinic visit. This combination of at-home diagnostics and AI guidance can save patients unnecessary trips while letting doctors focus on more complex cases. For rural and underserved communities, this pairing is invaluable, offering high-quality, personalized care when specialists are hard to reach.
In some cases, we may not need special devices other than our phone or VR headset. While software-based refraction has had its challenges, other software is emerging to monitor conditions such as AMD and diabetic retinopathy. As VR and AR headsets become more powerful, an at-home slit lamp exam may soon be a reality. Imagine smart, tech-enabled glasses that can monitor fatigue, IOP, dry eye, or real time vascular changes.
AI: It’s All About the Data
AI will be critical in handling the influx of data that remote monitoring will produce. It will be impossible for eye care providers to address this augmented decision support. AI will be essential in filtering through this data, identifying what matters, and presenting it in meaningful ways to clinicians.
As telemedicine pushes eye care forward, AI will accelerate our comfort with remote, AI-supported diagnostics and monitoring. Together, these technologies aren’t just enhancing eye care — they’re transforming it, broadening access and raising the standard of care for patients everywhere. The future of eye care is evolving rapidly, and these advancements are paving the way for a new era in patient-centered, data-driven care.
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