Abstract: Cataract stands as the leading ocular disorder responsible for blindness worldwide. Conventional diagnosis and treatment paradigms for cataract are plagued by a series of dilemmas across the entire care continuum, including subjectivity in clinical decision-making, inconsistent standardized operational protocols, and inequitable distribution of medical resources throughout screening, definitive diagnosis, surgical intervention and postoperative management. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has given a novel solution to address these challenges in cataract care. This article systematically reviews the cutting-edge application progress of artificial intelligence technologies in the full-cycle diagnosis and treatment of cataract, with an intensive focus on five core critical segments: cataract screening and grading, preoperative biometric measurement and intraocular lens power calculation, intraoperative surgical operation assistance, postoperative management, as well as integrated full-process care delivery. This paper further conducts an in-depth analysis of how AI drives the paradigm shift in cataract diagnosis and treatment.

Key words: Cataract, Artificial intelligence