57 EyeWorld Asia-Pacific | March 2025 NEWS & OPINION by Sri Ganesh, MD, and Supriya Sriganesh, MD AI For Surgical Training – A Look Into The Future AI is revolutionizing ophthalmology in multiple ways, particularly in diagnostics, treatment, and access to care. AI algorithms are excelling at analyzing medical images, aiding in the early diagnosis of conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. Early detection leads to faster treatments and better patient outcomes, addressing the growing prevalence of eye diseases. In treatment planning, AI tools like the Zeiss Surgery Optimizer enhance surgical precision by optimizing various parameters, improving procedural efficiency and outcomes. AI also facilitates personalized medicine by analyzing patient data to create tailored treatment plans based on individual factors. Moreover, AI accelerates drug discovery for eye diseases, helping to bring new therapies to market. Teleophthalmology powered by AI enables remote diagnosis and monitoring, improving access to care, especially in underserved areas and tackling global health challenges like retinopathy of prematurity. Finally, AI aids in training ophthalmologists, enhancing their skills and knowledge through simulated environments. In all these ways, AI is transforming the field, offering more efficient, personalized, and accessible care for eye disease patients. Enhancing Surgical Skills With AI-Driven Digital Tools Surgeons, especially those in training, often seek ways to refine their skills, increase their efficiency, and reduce the time it takes to become proficient. Whether to do with mastering techniques like capsulorhexis or perfecting hydrodissection, advancements in digital operating room (OR) technologies have made these goals more achievable. At the core of surgical learning is the process of emulation. Trainees often replicate techniques they’ve been taught by mentors, and reviewing expert surgical videos is a valuable tool in this regard. By watching and analyzing procedures performed by seasoned surgeons, trainees can pinpoint subtle nuances and areas for improvement. However, the traditional method of recording and reviewing these videos can be cumbersome and time-consuming. The process involves high-quality microscopes, recording systems, physical storage, and significant effort to organize and retrieve footage, which often results in video analysis being neglected. Recent innovations in digital visualization have addressed these issues by incorporating AI-powered systems. These systems automatically upload surgical recordings to the cloud, making them accessible from smartphones or laptops. This removes many of the barriers traditionally associated with reviewing surgical videos, allowing trainees to learn more efficiently by analyzing high-definition footage anytime and anywhere. A young surgeon using the Surgery optimiser in pilot studies. Source: Sri Ganesh, MD
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Njk2NTg0