Artificial intelligence (AI) has been widely discussed in recent years, but its impact on Canadian eye care is now tangible. From personalized dry eye management to automated retinal screening and advanced OCT biomarker analysis, AI-driven platforms are helping clinics improve efficiency, standardize documentation, and strengthen diagnostic support.
Not all AI tools serve the same function. Some operate as screening and triage systems, others deliver quantitative imaging analytics, and some provide broader clinical decision-support resources.
Below is an overview of six AI-enabled tools currently shaping clinical conversations in Canadian eye care.
- CSI Dry Eye Software – Standardizing Dry Eye Care
Dry eye disease remains one of the most common conditions encountered in primary eye care. CSI Dry Eye Software is a cloud-based clinical management platform designed to structure and streamline dry eye assessment and management.
Using AI-driven algorithms, the platform synthesizes patient questionnaires, diagnostic testing, and clinical findings. It identifies likely contributing mechanisms—such as evaporative or aqueous-deficient components—and generates structured, individualized treatment plans.
Key capabilities include:
- Analysis of multiple dry eye tests, patient questionnaires, and clinical data to identify underlying causes and contributing factors.
- Support for personalized, protocol-driven treatment plans by comparing patient data against databases of OTC products, prescription therapies, and in-office procedures.
- Longitudinal tracking of patient progress across multiple visits.
- Cloud-based access (SaaS) with structured dashboards, automated reminders, customized reporting, and follow-up tools to streamline workflow.
- Reduced chair time and decreased subjective variability through standardized analysis and treatment guidance.
Integration considerations: CSI operates as a browser-based SaaS platform and does not require proprietary hardware. It works with most dry eye data already collected in clinic. EMR integration varies by system; summaries can typically be exported or incorporated into records.
Best suited for: Clinics seeking structured, protocol-driven dry eye management.
- OphtAI – Automated Retinal Screening
OphtAI is designed for automated analysis of colour fundus photography. It screens for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), generating real-time reports with lesion mapping, severity grading, and confidence scoring.
Key features include:
- Detection of major retinal diseases from fundus photographs.
- Real-time analysis with downloadable PDF reports detailing lesion mapping and severity grading.
- Flexible access via web portal, mobile application, or API.
- Designed for rapid, automated screening in tele-ophthalmology or population-based programs.
Integration considerations: The platform is accessible via web, mobile, or API. In Canada, it is also currently integrated with Tecksoft EyeVu EMR. It does not require proprietary imaging hardware beyond a compatible fundus camera.
Best suited for: Primary care environments and large-scale screening programs.
- Altris AI – OCT Biomarker Quantification
Altris AI focuses on AI-enhanced interpretation of OCT scans. The platform detects and quantifies more than 70 retinal pathologies and biomarkers, including drusen subtypes, fluid, atrophy, and edema. It is particularly positioned for monitoring AMD, in both dry and neovascular forms.
Core features include:
- Automated detection and quantification of 70+ retinal biomarkers and pathologies.
- Highlighting and longitudinal tracking of AMD-related features to support monitoring of progression and treatment response.
- Conversion of raw OCT data into structured, reproducible outputs, including heatmaps, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid visualizations, graphs, and quantitative measurements.
- Support for research workflows through longitudinal comparisons and advanced analytics.
Integration considerations: Altris AI offers cloud-based access as standard, with on-premise options available. It is vendor-neutral and designed to integrate into existing OCT workflows, compatible with devices from multiple major manufacturers.
Best suited for: Retina-focused practices and imaging centres requiring detailed OCT analytics.
- AI4Eyes – Ocular Surface Test Consolidation
AI4Eyes is a Canadian-developed platform that combines proprietary hardware with AI-driven diagnostic software. The tool consolidates approximately 10 anterior segment tests into a streamlined, AI-guided imaging workflow. Clinicians receive AI-supported diagnostic suggestions and treatment recommendations for review.
Notable capabilities:
- Consolidation of multiple anterior segment tests into a single AI-guided workflow.
- Machine learning–based analysis of ocular surface parameters.
- Personalized treatment suggestions that clinicians can validate and refine.
Integration considerations: AI4Eyes integrates into the pre-test workflow and supplements existing diagnostic data collection. Unlike pure SaaS platforms, it requires acquisition of dedicated hardware.
Best suited for: Practices investing in integrated anterior segment and dry eye diagnostics.
- VisualDx – Broad Clinical Decision Support
VisualDx is a clinical decision-support platform rather than a dedicated eyecare AI tool. It contains a database of more than 45,000 medical images and peer-reviewed clinical content.
Clinicians can input signs and symptoms to generate differential diagnoses—particularly valuable when ocular findings intersect with dermatologic or systemic disease.
Core benefits include:
- Searchable content extending beyond ophthalmology, supporting multi-system evaluation.
- Access to treatment guidance, ICD coding support, and complication alerts.
- Patient education tools to facilitate communication and shared decision-making.
Integration considerations: VisualDx is web-based and accessible via browser or app, with API integration options available.
Best suited for: Clinicians managing complex or multi-system presentations.
- OCTolyzer – Open-Source OCT Research
OCTolyzer occupies a distinct niche as an open-source OCT analysis toolkit developed for research use. In Canada, it may be used in research environments but is not intended for direct patient diagnosis.
The platform performs automated retinal and choroidal segmentation and extracts quantitative metrics such as thickness measurements and vascular indices.
Integration considerations: OCTolyzer runs on standard computing systems and is platform-agnostic. It is not a regulated clinical diagnostic device and is intended for academic research, validation studies, and AI development.
Best suited for: Universities, research laboratories, and AI development teams.
In Summary
AI adoption in Canadian eye care continues to accelerate, with tools serving diverse clinical objectives:
- CSI Dry Eye Software and AI4Eyes focus on structured ocular surface management.
- OphtAI supports retinal screening.
- Altris AI enhances OCT biomarker analysis.
- VisualDx strengthens cross-disciplinary differential diagnosis.
- OCTolyzer advances academic research and innovation.
Selecting the appropriate platform depends on clinical focus, practice size, patient volume, regulatory considerations, and readiness to integrate new technologies into established workflows. As AI continues to evolve, its role in Canadian optometry is shifting from experimental to operational—reshaping how optometrists assess, document, and manage ocular disease.
Maryam Moharib, BOptom, BHSc, CSPO, CAPM
Maryam holds degrees in Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa and in Optometry from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England. She has dedicated many years to working alongside ophthalmologists in refractive surgical clinics, where she gained significant experience in clinical training and in EMR implementation for various software platforms.
Maryam has also worked as a certified product owner with an EMR software company where she played a key role in effectively bridging the gap between clinical needs and technology. Additionally, her certification in project management from the Project Management Institute has equipped her with the skills to lead implementation and transformative clinic projects successfully.
