Advances in the application of generative artificial intelligence in glaucoma research

In recent years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have achieved remarkable progress in the early screening, risk prediction, disease progression assessment, and clinical trial design of glaucoma.Using advanced algorithms, such as generative adversarial networks, variational autoencoders, and diffusion models, researchers have synthesized high-quality structural images of the optic disc, macular region, and retinal nerve fiber layer, which effectively alleviates the limitations of scarce clinical imaging data and label imbalance.These methods have substantially improved the accuracy and generalization of deep learning models in visual field defect prediction, structure-function mapping, and longitudinal disease progression simulation.Meanwhile, multimodal generative approaches that integrate imaging data, visual field tests, and clinical features have facilitated individualized prediction of glaucoma progression.In addition, large language models have shown preliminary potential in ophthalmic image interpretation, clinical text information extraction, and decision support, providing new insights into intelligent ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment.However, the clinical implementation of generative AI in glaucoma faces challenges.The pathological authenticity and cross-device consistency of generated images require further validation, which may affect the reliability of early glaucoma detection.The heterogeneous characteristics of different glaucoma subtypes, such as open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma, also limit the generalization of synthetic data.Moreover, issues related to model interpretability (” black-box” nature), artifact generation, data privacy, and ethical governance remain key barriers to clinical translation.In the future, it is expected that establishing large-scale training frameworks that incorporate multicenter, multimodal, and multiethnic datasets will enhance model robustness and clinical applicability.Furthermore, generative AI may contribute to remote ophthalmic care and personalized precision therapy by enhancing low-quality image, reconstructing missing data, and simulating dynamic disease courses.This article reviews the current applications, core technologies, and challenges of generative AI in glaucoma diagnosis and management, and discusses its future directions and translational potential in clinical ophthalmology.