Will AI replace Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric?
AI can do 37% of the work Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 18 tasks, while 9 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 7 still need a person.
AI is already doing this1 · 9% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.Mostly assisted9% of time
AI could do this next9 · 28% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.8% of time
- Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.6% of time
- Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.4% of time
- Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.3% of time
- Provide ophthalmic consultation to other medical professionals.2% of time
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of health professionals to provide optimal patient care.2% of time
- Refer patients for more specialized treatments when conditions exceed the experience, expertise, or scope of practice of practitioner.1% of time
- Conduct clinical or laboratory-based research in ophthalmology.1% of time
- Prescribe ophthalmologic treatments or therapies such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, or low vision therapy.1% of time
Robots can technically do this1 · 3% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
Still needs a person7 · 60% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.18% of time
- Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.14% of time
- Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.11% of time
- Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.6% of time
- Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.6% of time
- Instruct interns, residents, or others in ophthalmologic procedures and techniques.2% of time
- Prescribe corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses.2% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships.
What to do next
- Do the 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 9 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 7 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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