Automating the Preoperative Conversation
Bausch + Lomb will launch Orphia, a voice-based artificial intelligence agent, later this year to guide cataract surgery patients through the complexities of their upcoming procedures. Developed alongside Hippocratic AI, the platform is designed to automate routine patient outreach, effectively shifting the administrative workload away from clinical staff.
Simplifying Complex Lens Selection
Cataract surgery requires patients to digest a significant volume of information, particularly when navigating intraocular lens (IOL) options. The Orphia system initiates direct calls to patients to walk them through this material, aiming to alleviate the administrative pressure on eye care practices.
“Lens selection involves a large amount of information,” said Manisha Narasimhan, PhD, president of digital health services at Bausch + Lomb. “Using this agentic approach enables the patient to access this information as many times as they need before they sit face-to-face with their surgeon.”
Prioritizing Human Interaction
Currently, preoperative education calls often consume 30 to 60 minutes of staff time per patient. By automating these discussions, the company intends to free up office teams for higher-value clinical work.
Vance Thompson, MD, founder of Vance Thompson Vision, believes delegating these operational tasks to AI allows medical teams to prioritize the human elements of their practice. “It allows our teams to focus their energy where it creates the greatest value: empathy, trust and personal connection,” Thompson said. “People remain at the heart of care.”
While the initial rollout of Orphia focuses exclusively on cataract surgery education, Bausch + Lomb has indicated the platform may eventually adapt to address other eye care conditions. The service is built to be “brand agnostic,” meaning practices are not required to use specific Bausch + Lomb products or lenses to utilize the system.
Safety-Focused Healthcare Integration
The tool leverages technology from Hippocratic AI, a firm specializing in agents for healthcare environments. As the technology nears its commercial launch, aimed at streamlining the patient experience across the eye care sector.
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