NEW YORK—As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes healthcare, several leading eyecare experts will share their ideas and experiences with the clinical applications and diagnostic advantages of AI at the Vision Monday Leadership Summit. The VM Summit, which will take place in New York City on March 13, 2024, is titled, "What's Your AI Acuity? Sharpening a Vision for the Future.” The program will strive to develop a clear-eyed view of the risks and rewards of AI implementation.

Two renowned ophthalmologists, James Tsai, MD and Pearse Keane, MD will discuss the increasingly important role that artificial intelligence is playing in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease. “Dr. Tsai and Dr. Keane will each give Summit attendees an exclusive look at how their teams in the U.S. and U.K., respectively, are using AI to analyze and detect diabetic retinopathy and other sight-threatening conditions,” said Andrew Karp, group editor, lenses and technology, Jobson Medical Information.

Dr. Tsai heads the Center for Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the first of its kind in New York and one of the first in the U.S. The Center is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence in the field of ophthalmology.

The Center’s goal is to transform patient care with more timely diagnosis of eye disease and innovative risk assessment of systemic health conditions, according to Mt. Sinai. It aims to advance clinical innovation in AI-based diagnostic care in ophthalmology and population-based medical care, while advancing the understanding of cardiovascular and neurological conditions that impact patient well-being. Mount Sinai is incorporating AI into trainee and physician education, research, and the clinical setting for rapid diagnosis of eye diseases and conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, hypertensive retinopathy, systemic conditions and retinal tumors. Early detection and intervention can prevent vision loss and may also prevent heart attack and stroke since several eye conditions are linked to cardiovascular and neurological issues.

“Our department is excited to be at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation in AI and Human Health and play a critical role in validating and implementing the most promising technologies,” said Dr. Tsai, Delafield-Rogers professor and chair of ophthalmology at Icahn Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System, president of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE), and inaugural director of the Center. “We anticipate that the Center will help revolutionize and transform population-based health, thereby enhancing quality and equitable care.

“Besides the more timely diagnosis and referral of community-based ocular conditions, we will better predict cardiovascular health in the future since recent research has shown that cardiovascular risk factors can be determined from AI-guided analysis of retinal fundus photographs. No other specialty in medicine allows such an unimpeded view and assessment of the cardiovascular and neurological systems.”

  
 (L to R) Pearse Keane, MD; James Tsai, MD; and Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO.
 

Dr. Pearse Keane leads a pioneering research program at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London that is investigating whether AI can help meet a growing clinical need to better analyze eye scans. Now in its seventh year, the program grew out of a partnership with AI developer DeepMind and now involves Google Health.

“I believe that this technology has the potential to help save the sight of millions of people and I’m proud that Moorfields, the NHS (National Health System) and the U.K. as a whole, can play a central role,” remarked Dr. Keane.

Moderating a conversation with Drs. Tsai and Keane will be Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO. Dr. Karpecki will also share perspectives with leading ODs about the role that diagnostic AI will be playing in optometric practices.

Dr. Karpecki currently serves as director of cornea and external disease for the Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington Ky., running the largest, advanced, referral only, ocular surface disease clinic in the U.S. In 2017-2019, he completed a two-year preceptorship in advanced retinal disease at Retina Associates of Kentucky, one of the top 20 retina practices in the country and has a special interest in uveitis and retina management. He is the chief medical editor for Review of Optometry, chairs their New Technology and Treatment Conferences and serves on the board of the charitable organization Optometry Giving Sight. Dr. Karpecki is also a full associate professor at the Kentucky College of Optometry at the University of Pikeville. He has served on the International Task Force for Dry Eye Disease that included the top 25 dry eye experts in the world.

At presstime, Platinum Sponsors of the 2024 VM Leadership Summit include Advancing Eyecare, EssilorLuxottica, and VSP Vision. The Gold Sponsors are Alcon and Ocuco.

The 2024 VM Leadership Summit program will open with a networking breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and the program and lunch will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration includes the full program, networking breakfast and lunch. Details for registration are posted at www.visionmonday.com/summit. Early bird tickets and registration have a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 31.

Look for further information about speakers and the venue which will be posted soon in upcoming VMAIL announcements.