Vision and Eye Care
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Innovations in digital technology have helped transform the medical and healthcare industry over the years. An essential field of medicine that digital technology has helped transform is ophthalmology.
In recent years, health experts have expressed concerns about the deteriorating vision and eye health around the world, with cases of eye conditions like myopia and glaucoma constantly on the rise. Fortunately, digital technologies can help improve eye health patient outcomes, reduce costs, and make personalized medicine more accessible.
A 2022 study on digital health applications in vision care shows much promise in this area. In the past five years, research in digital health applied to vision sciences has significantly increased. In particular, interest in artificial intelligence developments and deep learning techniques have dominated conversations. Medically, the use of emerging technologies have been used to improve vision care practices like screening and diagnostics, but there are other uses for digital technologies in the field.
Below, we'll take a look at some of the technologies changing vision and eye care:
Virtual try-ons
One of the key differences between ophthalmology and other medical fields is its intricate relationship with the business end of things. For patients or individuals to access eye care and treatment, eyewear products like glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses are often essential. As such, many eyewear companies are committed to making these products easier to buy and access.
A crucial development in this initiative is the rise of the ‘virtual try on’ feature. Eyewear retailer Sunglass Hut has an in-depth virtual glasses try on feature on its website, allowing users to browse through the retailer's selection of branded sunglasses, from Ray-Ban and Oakley to Prada and Versace. If customers aren't sure about the pair they want, they can easily "try them on" by allowing access to the camera on their device, such as a smartphone or tablet. The sunglasses will appear on the customer's face in a realistic 3D render, allowing customers to select the best styles of eyewear and view how they would look based on various angles and lighting conditions.
Telehealth
Beyond making essential eyewear products more accessible, innovations in the eye health sector are also focused on elevating the level of care and information dissemination between eye health practitioners and patients. An Optometry Times piece on telehealth and primary eye care highlights how telehealth in vision and eye care today includes patient portals, call centers, and tech-driven triage systems. Additionally, telehealth eye care services also cover digital business cards, eye appointment reminders, and patient instructions for specific eyewear products or installations.
Unfortunately, while telehealth can boost convenience, it's important to acknowledge that not everyone has access to advanced and practical telehealth services. In a previous post, we highlighted the need for Congress to extend Medicare tele-visits, lest the option ceases to exist for most Medicare patients in 2025. While telehealth options certainly aren't a necessity, having the option of doing virtual eye doctor visits available can make eye and vision health care more accessible.
Artificial intelligence
Finally, another rapidly developing technology in the eye health sector is artificial intelligence. A 2023 study published in The Lancet Global Health about artificial intelligence and digital health in terms of global eye health highlights how the accelerated development of AI applications provides an opportunity to transform eye health by facilitating and increasing access to eye care. AI can also support clinical decision-making with an objective, data-driven approach.
Researchers note that in ophthalmology, AI and deep learning is most commonly applied to diagnostic medical imaging, such as fundus photography (retinal image capture) and optical coherence tomography (photography focusing on the back of your eye). Today, algorithms trained with deep learning have shown expert-level diagnostic accuracy for various eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
In the future, innovations in digital technology will continue to transform vision and eye care, not only by boosting diagnostic accuracy and decision-making for eye health practitioners but by making vision and care more accessible and convenient for patients and consumers as well
Sonny Martin is a health and tech writer exploring how innovations are transforming vision and eye care. His work highlights advancements improving eye health and treatment options for a tech-driven future.