Embodied artificial intelligence in ophthalmology

Yao Qiu; Xiaolan Chen; Xinyuan Wu; Yunqian Li; Pusheng Xu; Kai Jin; Xianwen Shang; Peranut Chotcomwongse; Mingguang He; Danli Shi

doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01754-4

Embodied artificial intelligence in ophthalmology

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jun 11;8(1):351. doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-01754-4.

Authors

Yao Qiu^#^{1

2}, Xiaolan Chen^#¹, Xinyuan Wu^#¹, Yunqian Li², Pusheng Xu¹, Kai Jin³, Xianwen Shang¹, Peranut Chotcomwongse⁴, Mingguang He^{5

6

7}, Danli Shi^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
² State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
³ Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ Vitreoretina Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Rajavithi Hospital, Rungsit University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁵ School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. mingguang.he@polyu.edu.hk.
⁶ Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. mingguang.he@polyu.edu.hk.
⁷ Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), 17W Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong. mingguang.he@polyu.edu.hk.
⁸ School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. danli.shi@polyu.edu.hk.
⁹ Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong. danli.shi@polyu.edu.hk.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Embodied artificial intelligence (EAI) integrates perception, memory, reasoning and action through physical interaction, enabling multimodal dynamic learning and real-time feedback. In ophthalmology, EAI supports data-driven decision-making, improving the precision and personalization of diagnosis, surgery, and treatment. It also holds transformative potential in medical education and scientific research by simulating clinical scenarios and accelerating discovery. This perspective highlights EAI's unique potential while addressing current challenges in data, interpretation, and ethics, and outlines future directions for its clinical integration.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding