Editorial Understanding the advent of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology

While some physicians view artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat to their careers, imagining a machine taking over for a human being, large tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple are investing billions of dollars into research and development of AI. Many in the medical industry are now beginning to view AI as the most promising technology for medicine. While the potential of AI is just beginning to be uncovered, many ophthalmology practices are already using AI and its subfields [machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL)] to revolutionize vision care. While it is highly improbable that AI will ever replace the need for an ophthalmologist, AI can be used to augment vision care and greatly improve efficiency. According to Schmidt-Erfurth et al.1 “Methods based on machine learning and particularly deep learning are able to identify, localize and quantify pathological features in almost every macular and retinal disease”. It is vital to understand how ML and DL work, understand current applications in ophthalmology, and prepare for the future of AI.