Interpretation of artificial intelligence studies for the ophthalmologist

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology has increased dramatically. However, interpretation of these studies can be a daunting prospect for the ophthalmologist without a background in computer or data science. This review aims to share some practical considerations for interpretation of AI studies in ophthalmology.

It can be easy to get lost in the technical details of studies involving AI. Nevertheless, it is important for clinicians to remember that the fundamental questions in interpreting these studies remain unchanged - What does this study show, and how does this affect my patients? Being guided by familiar principles like study purpose, impact, validity, and generalizability, these studies become more accessible to the ophthalmologist. Although it may not be necessary for nondomain experts to understand the exact AI technical details, we explain some broad concepts in relation to AI technical architecture and dataset management.

The expansion of AI into healthcare and ophthalmology is here to stay. AI systems have made the transition from bench to bedside, and are already being applied to patient care. In this context, 'AI education' is crucial for ophthalmologists to be confident in interpretation and translation of new developments in this field to their own clinical practice.