Tom Chang MD, AI, and the Future of Eyecare

Tom Chang MD has been a leader in developing technology for eye care for more than two decades. He is especially enthusiastic about what artificial intelligence (AI) can do for the field of ophthalmology. Dr. Chang is an ophthalmologist, a specialist who studies and treats eye disorders. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are two of the most common conditions he treats.

Tom Chang MD on the Benefits of AI in Healthcare

AI can scan enormous amounts of data in far less time than it would take doctors to do manually. The ability to access data faster results in a quicker diagnosis for patients. That can mean the difference between vision restoration and blindness for some patients.

Dr. Chang is the founder and CEO of Acuity Eye Centers in California. Eye care staff uses Acuity360 to screen for eye diseases rather than having to dilate the patient’s eyes. The procedure normally takes about 20 minutes and is minimally invasive. Acuity360 makes it possible for staff to detect numerous abnormalities within the eye.

Recently, Tom Chang MD commented on the future of eye care using AI. He started out by saying that the final decisions for patient care should always rest with a doctor. However, he predicts a fundamental change in optometry where doctors will rely on AI to help inform their decisions. He also feels that AI will help make optometry patients feel more comfortable. Because of this, he hopes it will make them more proactive with preventive care.

Background of Tom Chang MD

Tom Chang MD completed his education and started his career in Canada. His medical degree comes from the University of Toronto Medical School. He completed one residency and three fellowships in ophthalmology while earning his medical degree. The ophthalmology residency took place at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Chang’s fellowships focused on pathology, macular disease, and eye surgery during his residencies with the following:

• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami
• Emory University in Atlanta
• Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University

Tom Chang MD worked as an ophthalmology professor for a combined total of 11 years in British Columbia, Canada. He then came to the United States to launch Acuity Eye Centers in more than a dozen California locations. He is also responsible for the development of the Retina Institute of California in November 2005.

Dr. Chang was part of a team that performed the world’s first surgical implantation for stem cell treatment. The procedure was for the treatment of macular degeneration. He and his team worked in close collaboration with the Johnson & Johnson Stem Cell Organization. This is not the only honor for Dr. Chang and fellow ophthalmologists at the Retina Institute of California. Collectively, the team has performed the most stem cell surgeries of the sub-retina in the world.

Tom Chang MD serves on the editorial board of Evidence Based Eye Care. He holds editor-in-chief and associate editor position with two other eye care publications as well.