Physicians' Perspectives on ChatGPT in Ophthalmology: Insights on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration in Clinical Practice

Abstract

To obtain detailed data on the acceptance of an artificial intelligence chatbot (ChatGPT; OpenAI, San Francisco, CA, USA) in ophthalmology among physicians, a survey explored physician responses regarding using ChatGPT in ophthalmology. The survey included questions about the applications of ChatGPT in ophthalmology, future concerns such as job replacement or automation, research, medical education, patient education, ethical concerns, and implementation in practice. One hundred ninety-nine ophthalmic surgeons participated in this study. Approximately two-thirds of the participants had 15 years or more experience in ophthalmology. One hundred sixteen reported that they had used ChatGPT. We found no difference in age, gender, or level of experience between those who used or did not use ChatGPT. ChatGPT users tend to consider ChatGPT and artificial intelligence (AI) as useful in ophthalmology (P=0.001). Both users and non-users think that AI is useful for identifying early signs of eye disease, providing decision support in treatment planning, monitoring patient progress, answering patient questions, and scheduling appointments. Both users and non-users believe there are some issues related to the use of AI in health care, such as liability issues, privacy concerns, accuracy of diagnosis, trust of the chatbot, ethical issues, and information bias. The use of ChatGPT and other forms of AI is increasingly becoming accepted among ophthalmologists. AI is seen as a helpful tool for improving patient education, decision support, and medical services, but there are also concerns regarding privacy and job displacement, which warrant human oversight. Copyright © 2025, Ahmed et al.