World’s first robotic-assisted cataract surgery performed

Editor's Note

Cataract surgery remains among the most frequent surgeries at a rate of 26 million procedures each year globally, and surgical robotics could soon be used to support these procedures. Recently a robotic surgical system for cataract surgeries developed by UCLA engineers and physicians was used to complete the world’s first human clinical trial of robotic-assisted cataract surgery, according to a December 3 news story from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.

Traditional approaches to cataract surgery require visualization of transparent ocular tissues and extreme precision due to the small dimensions of the anatomical structures, per the article.

This robotic approach to cataract surgery provides real-time augmentation, guidance overlays and tactile paddles while the surgeon views a 3D monitor displaying ocular anatomy captured through multimodal imaging systems. Surgical robotic arms, attached to a cart near the patient’s head, use interchangeable microsurgical tools attached to the robotic system to make small corneal incisions and remove the cataract-affected lens. The surgeon then implants a clear, patient-specific artificial lens to restore 20/20 vision, per the article.

The investigators are now working toward next steps for this ophthalmic surgical robot technology, including further development through the clinical regulatory process toward broader adoption of the technology.