To learn more about Harbir Sian and the 20/20 Podcast, visit: https://aboutmyeyes.com/
Dr. Harbir Sian is an award-winning optometrist based in Vancouver, Canada. In The 20/20, Dr. Sian interviews guests from various backgrounds and industries to share their struggles and successes. Guests include business owners, entrepreneurs, world-class athletes, media personalities, medical professionals, and more.
Through conversations with these guests, Canada’s number 1 optometry podcast brings clarity to business, entrepreneurship, and eyecare. Dr. Sian also shares his personal experiences through his shorter Eye2Eye segment. In these short episodes, Dr. Sian opens up and provides a vulnerable look into the challenges he has faced (and overcome) in his personal and professional life.
The 20/20 Podcast gives you a look through different lenses and helps you focus on your growth.
AI isn’t coming to eye care… it’s already here. The real question is—are we ready to evolve with it?
In this episode of The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with AI entrepreneur and optometrist Dr. Masoud Nafey to break down one of the most important—and misunderstood—topics in modern eye care: artificial intelligence.
From large language models like ChatGPT to emerging AI “agents,” Dr. Nafey explains how AI actually works in a practical, relatable way. The conversation explores where AI is already being used successfully in optometry—like front desk automation, scribes, and billing—and where expectations may still be unrealistic.
More importantly, this episode dives into the future of the profession. Will AI replace doctors? Or will it finally free us from admin work and allow us to focus on what matters most—human connection and patient care?
This isn’t a technical deep dive—it’s a strategic conversation about adaptability, mindset, and how eye care providers can position themselves to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Key Highlights
1. AI is Already Here (and Learning From You)
- Tools like ChatGPT improve every time we use them
- AI is trained on massive datasets and continuously refines its responses
- Even your corrections (“that’s not what I meant”) help train the system
2. The Biggest Opportunities in Eye Care Right Now
- Customer operations: AI answering phones, especially after hours
- AI scribes: Reducing charting burden and improving efficiency
- Billing & coding: Pattern recognition makes this a natural fit
The key: If it doesn’t save time, it won’t be adopted.
3. Diagnostics: Assistive, Not Replacement (Yet)
- AI is moving toward clinical decision support, not full diagnosis
- Emerging field: oculomics (AI analyzing imaging like OCTs)
- Future vision: AI flags concerns → doctor interprets + connects with patient
4. The Real Bottleneck Isn’t Technology—It’s Us
- Adoption = change management problem, not a tech problem
- Practices must evolve workflows—not expect AI to do everything instantly
- Providers must be willing to:
- Adjust behavior
- Invest in training
- Embrace imperfect early versions
5. The Future Practice Model Might Look Very Different
- Data collection + analysis → handled by AI
- Doctors → focused on consultation, decision-making, and empathy
- The value of eye care shifts from data gathering → human connection
Memorable Quotes
“If it requires a brain, AI can probably do it. If it requires human connection, that’s where we shine.”
“We signed up to be empathetic providers—not data collectors.”
“We’re in the middle of a revolution… we just don’t fully understand it yet.”
Key Takeaway
AI won’t replace optometrists—but optometrists who embrace AI may replace those who don’t.
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