Will AI replace Orthoptists?
AI can do 49% of the work Orthoptists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 16 tasks, while 7 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 6 still need a person.
AI is already doing this2 · 12% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists.Mostly automated7% of time
- Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results.Mostly assisted5% of time
AI could do this next7 · 36% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.12% of time
- Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.9% of time
- Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.5% of time
- Collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists, or other specialists in the diagnosis, treatment, or management of conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases.5% of time
- Refer patients to ophthalmic surgeons or other physicians.1% of time
- Participate in clinical research projects.1% of time
- Present or publish scientific papers.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.
- Assist ophthalmologists in diagnostic ophthalmic procedures, such as ultrasonography, fundus photography, and tonometry.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
Still needs a person6 · 49% 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.
- Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.18% of time
- Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.15% of time
- Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.8% of time
- Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or patients with disabilities.4% of time
- Provide training related to clinical methods or orthoptics to students, resident physicians, or other health professionals.3% of time
- Perform vision screening of children in schools or community health centers.1% 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 do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 8 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 7 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 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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