Ophthalmology is undergoing a profound transformation driven by predictive technology and a shift toward value-based, patient-centered care. Precision and efficiency are emphasized to enhance outcomes across a range of treatments. A key example of this shift is digital twins in ophthalmology, a concept detailed in this issue of CRST Global by Arthur B. Cummings, MBChB, FCS(SA), MMed(Ophth), FRCSEd, FWCRS, in his article “Digital Twins in Laser Vision Correction”. These virtual models of patients allow clinicians to simulate and predict treatment outcomes in real time, offering new possibilities for individualized care, risk reduction, and improved success rates by using patient-specific data.
Accompanying technological advances is a renewed emphasis on patient-centered care models that redefine the physician-patient relationship. In their article “A Transition to Participatory Medicine,” Amanda Cardwell Carones, MPH, and Francesco Carones, MD, discuss the shift to participatory medicine that is empowering patients to be active partners in their treatment. This model supports informed decision-making and improved outcomes as patients collaborate with their clinicians.
Another core development is a focus on outcomes measurement and continuous quality improvement. As the demand for high-value care increases, ophthalmologists are adopting data-driven methods to monitor and refine interventions. Andrea Russo, MD, PhD, in “Data-Driven Ophthalmology”, examines how precision tools and machine learning can help practices fully leverage data to enhance surgical predictability and optimize patient outcomes.
In “Vision Without Limits: Leveraging AI for Spectacle-Free Cataract Outcomes”, Milind Pande, MBBS, DO, FRCS, FRCOphth, CertLRS, FWCRS, explains how AI-based tools are simplifying personalized surgical planning, moving the field of ophthalmology toward a future of universal spectacle freedom. These technologies are paving the way to a world where glasses and contact lenses may become largely optional, with predictive algorithms and vast datasets enabling outcomes tailored to each patient’s specific needs.
In refractive surgery, predictive tools are elevating standards of care. Roger Zaldivar, MD, MBA, in his article “AI and the Evolution of Phakic IOLs”, highlights the role of AI in optimizing procedures involving Implantable Collamer Lenses (STAAR Surgical), especially in improving vault prediction for greater patient satisfaction. In a similar vein, Renato Ambrósio Jr, MD, PhD, FWCRS, explores the latest methods for corneal ectasia prevention in “Advances in Corneal Ectasia Prevention”. His discussion of multimodal imaging and AI-based risk assessment illustrates how subtle early indicators of ectasia can now be identified to make treatment planning safer and more effective.
This issue of CRST Global highlights cutting-edge advances in predictive tools, patient-centered care models, and data-driven approaches. It offers actionable insights from some of the field’s most innovative pioneers. I hope these discussions inspire new strategies for enhancing patient care, refining techniques, optimizing outcomes, and delivering exceptional value to patients.
