Evaluating the novel role of ChatGPT-4 in addressing corneal ulcer queries: An AI-powered insight

Purpose ChatGPT-4, a natural language processing-based AI model, is increasingly being applied in healthcare, facilitating education, research, and clinical decision-making support. This study explores ChatGPT-4's capability to deliver accurate and detailed information on corneal ulcers, assessing its application in medical education and clinical decision-making. Methods The study engaged ChatGPT-4 with 12 structured questions across different categories related to corneal ulcers. For each inquiry, five unique ChatGPT-4 sessions were initiated, ensuring that the output was not affected by previous queries. A panel of five ophthalmology experts including optometry teaching and research staff assessed the responses using a Likert scale (1–5) (1: very poor; 2: poor; 3: acceptable; 4: good; 5: very good) for quality and accuracy. Median scores were calculated, and inter-rater reliability was assessed to gauge consistency among evaluators. Results The evaluation of ChatGPT-4's responses to corneal ulcer-related questions revealed varied performance across categories. Median scores were consistently high (4.0) for risk factors, etiology, symptoms, treatment, complications, and prognosis, with narrow IQRs (3.0–4.0), reflecting strong agreement. However, classification and investigations scored slightly lower (median 3.0). Signs of corneal ulcers had a median of 2.0, showing significant variability. Of 300 responses, 45% were rated ‘good,’ 41.7% ‘acceptable,’ 10% ‘poor,’ and only 3.3% ‘very good,’ highlighting areas for improvement. Notably, Evaluator 2 gave 35 ‘good’ ratings, while Evaluators 1 and 3 assigned 10 ‘poor’ ratings each. Inter-evaluator variability, along with gaps in diagnostic precision, underscores the need for refining AI responses. Continuous feedback and targeted adjustments could boost ChatGPT-4's utility in delivering high-quality ophthalmic education. Conclusion ChatGPT-4 shows promising utility in providing educational content on corneal ulcers. Despite the variance in evaluator ratings, the numerical analysis suggests that with further refinement, ChatGPT-4 could be a valuable tool in ophthalmological education and clinical support.