Ten years later: how is AI impacting retina care today?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Technology
• Artificial Intelligence

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) are revolutionizing medical diagnostics and patient monitoring.
• Retina care, specifically for conditions like diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a key area benefiting from AI advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent AI-powered clinical applications in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• To highlight the impact of AI on screening accessibility, diagnostic precision, and personalized disease monitoring in retina care.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on AI applications in ophthalmology.
• Analysis of FDA and European regulatory approvals for AI-driven medical devices.
• Examination of real-world studies on AI performance in clinical settings.

Main Results:

• Multiple AI platforms for DR screening have emerged since 2018, improving screening adherence and diagnostic accuracy.
• AI technologies are increasingly used for managing AMD and diabetic macular edema via automated optical coherence tomography (OCT) image analysis.
• Home OCT platforms authorized by the FDA are enabling remote monitoring of retinal fluid in AMD patients.

Conclusions:

• AI is empowering patients and providers in retina care, with tangible public health benefits.
• Continued validation, outcome-based metrics, and workflow integration are crucial for AI's widespread adoption.
• The next decade will determine if AI becomes an indispensable tool in modern retina care.