Ophthalmologists' view of artificial intelligence: results of a cross-sectional survey

Objective: The current local cross-sectional study was designated to gauge the knowledge and perception of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of ophthalmology among juniors and senior ophthalmologists comparing their levels of perception. Methods: This anonymous qualitative, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among Saudi ophthalmologists of different generations. A specially designed and validated English language questionnaire was electronically distributed to national ophthalmologists. This questionnaire included 20 different questions about the participants' demographical data such as age, place of practice, and experience level. It also contained sections related to information, knowledge, and perception of AI in ophthalmology. Results: Fifty-seven ophthalmologists participated in this study. They were 24 consultants (42.1%), 29 (50.9%) residents as well as 4 fellowship trainees. The majority of them (73.7%) were practicing in government hospitals, while the remaining had their practice at different sittings ranging from private hospitals (19.3%), primary healthcare centers (PHC) (3.5%), and private clinics (3.5%). They were mostly (91.2%) convinced that AI is of paramount importance for ophthalmologic disease management including cataracts, strabismus, glaucoma diagnosis, and surgery. Conclusion: The participating ophthalmologists showed high knowledge and perception regarding AI's role in handling ophthalmological disorders. These results highlighted and motivated the inclusion of AI within the domain of any ophthalmologic education program.