Increasingly, optometrists are involved in managing patients with more complex needs. As volumes increase, a primary care sector utilised effectively is key. Since advanced retinal imaging - either by way of OCT or ultra-widefield imaging, delivers more clinical information at an earlier stage, often for asymptomatic patients at routine exams, high quality analysis and understanding of that data is paramount, and the next major hurdle to overcome. Could AI provide the solution to the analysis conundrum? While the last three decades have seen ground-breaking changes in the way the retina is imaged, AI will, as we move forward, increasingly provide rapid analytical interpretation of those images. 

In this lecture, Derek Swan, Optos chief technology officer, will take the audience through key considerations: what is the future of technology such as AI in primary and secondary eye care settings; what are the barriers; and how are we preparing to embrace software and AI solutions in the same way we embraced OCT and ultra-widefield retinal imaging?

Learning outcomes:

An understanding and awareness of the emerging technology of AI and the role it can play in clinical practice and in disease diagnosis and referral management

An understanding of how AI will be relevant while assessing ultra-widefield and OCT images.