The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), together with Horizon Surgical Systems, has carried out the world's first cataract removal surgery using a surgical robot. The Polaris system demonstrated record precision of up to 0.053 mm, previously achievable only by the most experienced surgeons.
The study involved 10 patients, and the operations were performed at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute without a single complication. Surgeons controlled the system through a special console with 3D imaging and tactile feedback, while the robotic arm performed the key stages of the operation — from the micro-incision to the implantation of an artificial lens.
Almost 94 million people suffer from cataracts, and it remains the leading cause of blindness in the world. Eye surgery requires the highest precision: it deals with tissues that are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. Even the slightest deviation can affect the outcome. The new technology is the result of more than a decade of collaboration. It can not only speed up operations, but also improve access to high-precision medicine even in places where experienced surgeons are scarce.
