In an age where technology intersects with every aspect of our lives, it's no surprise that the field of ophthalmology is also experiencing a significant transformation. The first of the 2023 series "Mind, Macular, and Me" webinar by the Macular Society kicked off with casting a spotlight on how artificial intelligence (AI) and health data are becoming pivotal in the battle against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Our CEO, Dr Wen Hwa Lee, took stage to explain how AI and health data are at the front of this mission. By mimicking human diagnostic abilities, AI has the potential to revolutionize how eye diseases are identified and treated. This venture into AI is of the broader Foresight initiative, which aims to aggregate data collected from retinal imagining and scans starting from community level. This initiative seeks to not only improve early disease detection but also refine prevention strategies, allowing for future healthcare advancements. Dr Wen Hwa Lee also discussed the importance of data privacy and the ethical considerations of data and AI's application in healthcare, in a proportional way balancing protection and the much-needed advances in this field.
The take home message from this webinar is that, through the collaborative efforts of charities, the scientific communities, and the public, AI has the potential to shape the future of eye care. With initiatives such as Foresight taking the lead, there is promise of transformative changes that could significantly improve the lives of those affected by AMD.
To hear more about what AI is, its use in ophthalmology, and future initiatives around AMD, listen to the full webinar "Mind, Macular, and Me" by the Macular Society.