Here you’ll find trusted patient handouts on common eye conditions and our latest monthly eye health blog posts to help you care for your vision.

At Broadway Family Optometry, we believe that understanding your eye condition is a key part of taking care of your vision. That is why we have created this collection of easy-to-read guides to help you feel more confident, informed, and supported. Each guide below covers a common eye condition, what it means, and how it is treated. These are the same topics we often discuss in our visits together - now available for you to review anytime, at your own pace.

Click any condition below to open its guide.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Blepharitis
Blepharospasm
Cataract
Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR)
Chalazion
Corneal Ulcer
Diabetic Retinopathy
Dry Eye Syndrome
Glaucoma (Early Stage)
Macular Degeneration (Dry Form)
Ocular Hypertension
Ocular Migraine
Pingueculae
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
Pseudopapilledema
Pterygium
Retinal Detachment
Strabismus
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Uveitis
Viral Conjunctivitis

We are continuing to add more guides to this library. Please check back often for updates, or ask
our staff if you would like a printed copy at your next visit.
If you have questions about anything you read here, I encourage you to reach out.
We are here to help you see good, look better, and feel your best.

Warm regards,
Dr. Boris Mardian, O.D.

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare—and eye care is at the center of this revolution. From early detection of diseases to helping patients pick out glasses, AI is changing the way ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians care for eyes. Let’s take a look at how this technology is already in place, what lies ahead, and why human interaction will always be crucial.

Ophthalmologists: AI As a Diagnostic Partner

Ophthalmology has witnessed the first advances in AI, especially in the area of retinal imaging.


• Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): FDA-cleared systems like EyeArt (Eyenuk) and IDX-DR (LumineticsCore) can autonomously detect DR from retinal photographs in under a minute, without a doctor having to read the scan.
• Glaucoma: AI is moving beyond DR. The LV Prasad Eye Institute in India validated a smartphone-based AI tool that detected glaucoma with over 90% accuracy. Companies like AEYE Health and RetinaLyze are also building tools that track glaucoma progression.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): Tools like DeepSeeNet (a research model) can classify AMD severity more accurately than some retinal specialists, while DeepMind’s AI (with Moorfields Eye Hospital in London) showed 94.5% accuracy across 50 different retinal diseases using OCT scans.
  

These aren’t robots performing surgery. They’re sophisticated software programs integrated with cameras and OCT systems, trained to recognize subtle disease patterns that the human eye might miss. 


Optometrists: Expanding Care with AI

AI is starting to assist optometrists in their day-to-day tasks:


• Portable Imaging: The Sentinel Camera by AI Optics is a handheld retinal camera with FDA clearance, making high-quality imaging available even in primary care settings.
• Disease Detection: Platforms like RETINA-AI and EYEAI (in development) analyze retinal images in real time, screening for multiple conditions beyond DR.
• Predictive Power: Some AI tools are being trained to predict which patients are likely to progress to advanced conditions like wet AMD or glaucoma, allowing earlier detection.

In practice, this means optometrists may soon be able to deliver more accurate screenings chairside—improving patient education, triaging referrals, and catching disease earlier.


Opticians: AI meets Style

AI isn’t just for disease detection—it’s also shaping the way people shop for glasses.

• Virtual Try-On Tools: Many eyewear retailers now use AI-powered augmented reality to let patients "try on" eyeglasses virtually.
  
• Frame and Lens Matching: AI can suggest frames based on face shape or recommend lenses and coatings tailored to specific lifestyles, such as heavy computer use, sports, and night driving. 

These innovations can be fun and convenient, but they have limitations. A computer can show you how a frame looks, but it cannot measure how it fits, ensure lenses are made to precise specifications, or verify long-term comfort. That’s where professional expertise comes in. At Broadway Family Optometry, we combine modern technology with hands-on precision to make sure your glasses aren’t just stylish but also perfectly functional. 

AI in the Day-to-Day Eye Care Experience

AI isn’t only helping doctors detect eye disease; it’s also streamlining how practices operate.

• Electronic Health Records: AI can help identify patient trends, flag follow-up needs, and even suggest coding accuracy for insurance billing.
• Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Orders: Some AI systems help recommend lens designs based on lifestyle, auto-check for prescription errors, or streamline lab orders.
• Patient Communication: AI-powered phone systems and chat assistants can answer routine questions, book appointments, and route urgent calls to staff.
• Insurance & Billing: AI tools can verify benefits, estimate out-of-pocket costs, and catch errors before claims are submitted, reducing delays and headaches for patients.

By reducing administrative burdens, AI helps staff spend less time on paperwork and more time on personal patient care.


The Road Ahead 

AI is expanding beyond diabetic retinopathy into glaucoma, AMD, keratoconus, dry eye, and other retinal diseases. OCT-Angiography with AI is even being used to analyze retinal blood vessel health, potentially predicting systemic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s. 

But it’s important to remember: AI is a tool, not a replacement. It can analyze patterns, but it doesn’t replace the expertise, empathy, and judgment of your eye doctor. The human touch, listening, explaining, and personalizing care remain irreplaceable.

Closing Note

AI is changing the way we look at eyes—literally. From advanced disease detection to new tools for choosing glasses, technology is reshaping both clinical care and everyday eyewear. At Broadway Family Optometry, we’re keeping a close eye on these advances to make sure our patients benefit from the best of both worlds: cutting-edge tools and compassionate, personalized care. 

Looking Ahead (Part II): This blog focused on how AI is shaping eye care today. But AI’s impact goes far beyond the exam room. In our next post, we’ll take a different approach, exploring the ethical and philosophical questions of AI, from consciousness and the soul to love, identity, and even rights for machines.  

[Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only. Therefore, it should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. For individualized advice and recommendations, please contact Dr. Boris Mardian, OD, at any time.

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