AI Day 2026 - Webinar 1: Foundations of AI in eye care – from rule-based systems to agentic AI

Optometry Today (OT), in partnership with the AOP, is pleased to present a day of AI-focused education.

The event features a series of online sessions offering practical insights into the opportunities, limitations and evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in optometry.

The programme includes four webinars, each providing one interactive CPD point. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field, building confidence and exchanging knowledge with peers. Delegates may attend the full programme or choose individual sessions that best match their clinical interests.

Please note: You will not be eligible for CPD if you dial in to audio only using a phone.

Session 1: Foundations of AI in eye care – from rule-based systems to agentic AI - Book now
Session 2: AI-supported clinical diagnostics - Book below
Session 3: Walking the tightrope of professionalism at the technology frontier - Book below
Session 4: From screening to population health – why optometrists must lead the next generation of AI research - Book below

Webinar 1: Foundations of AI in eye care – from rule-based systems to agentic AI

This session provides a practical introduction to AI, from rule-based systems through to AI agents, giving delegates the grounding needed to engage with AI tools in eye care competently and safely. Using healthcare case studies, it explores the four types of AI that optometrists are most likely to encounter in practice – traditional machine learning, deep learning, generative AI and agentic AI – and explains the strengths, limitations and appropriate applications of each.

The session also introduces a structured framework for prompting AI chatbots to obtain accurate, useful and safe outputs. Designed to build AI literacy and professional judgement, the session does not endorse any specific product or platform.

Learning outcomes

Practitioners will be able to describe the historical development of AI and distinguish between rule-based systems, traditional machine learning, deep learning, generative AI and agentic AI (s.5)

Practitioners will identify which type of AI is appropriate for specific optometric tasks and recognise the oversight and limits of competence required before relying on AI outputs in patient care (s.6, s.7)

Practitioners will identify how to apply a structured prompting framework to obtain accurate and useful outputs from AI chatbots, while maintaining patient confidentiality and data protection when handling clinical information (s.14).