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AI exposure Healthcare practitioners and technical

Will AI replace ophthalmologists?

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. US occupation 29-1241.

0.0%

of the time ophthalmologists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of ophthalmologists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for ophthalmologistsWhat ophthalmologists no longer do alone

O*NET lists 18 tasks for ophthalmologists. AI use at work shows up in 1 of them, though too little of the job's time goes on them to register in the exposure figure. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.Core task automated and assisted 0.72

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

17 of the 18 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of health professionals to provide optimal patient care.Core task
  • Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.Core task
  • Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.Core task
  • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.Core task
  • Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.Core task
  • Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.Core task
Show the other 11
  • Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.Core task
  • Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.Core task
  • Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.Core task
  • Prescribe corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses.Core task
  • Prescribe ophthalmologic treatments or therapies such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, or low vision therapy.Core task
  • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.Core task
  • Provide ophthalmic consultation to other medical professionals.Core task
  • Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.Core task
  • Refer patients for more specialized treatments when conditions exceed the experience, expertise, or scope of practice of practitioner.Core task
  • Conduct clinical or laboratory-based research in ophthalmology.
  • Instruct interns, residents, or others in ophthalmologic procedures and techniques.

How that compares

Among the 65 healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, ophthalmologists rank 43. The group averages 4.1%, and its most exposed job is Medical Records Specialists at 66.7%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 0.0%
  2. 346Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians 0.0%
  3. 346Ophthalmic Medical Technicians 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.