**The Future of Eye Surgery: Robotics and AI Tackle Cataract Procedures**
Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness, and the only effective treatment is surgery. However, a significant global shortage of trained surgeons makes these procedures difficult to access. In response to this challenge, companies like ForSight Robotics are exploring how robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) can assist in making cataract surgery more accessible and consistent.
ForSight Robotics has developed the JASPER Platform (formerly known as ORYOM), a system designed to assist surgeons at every step of a cataract procedure. According to Dr. Joseph Nathan, the company’s co-founder and chief medical officer, the goal of the technology is to address the intense physical demands of eye surgery and the lack of skilled professionals.
> “When I was starting to do ophthalmic surgery, eye surgery, I noticed a few things. It’s very hard to do those procedures. The movements are very delicate… We don’t have enough surgeons. We have this huge gap between the number of surgeons and the surge in patients.”
### A Breakthrough in Robotic-Assisted Surgery
A major milestone for the technology occurred in April, when JASPER completed a robot-assisted cataract surgery on a human patient. The procedure, performed by Dr. Alexey Rapoport with Dr. Robert Edward T. Ang of the Asian Eye Institute in Manila serving as principal investigator, marked a significant step forward. Unlike previous ophthalmic robotic procedures that only handled partial tasks, JASPER completed the entire surgery from the first incision to the incision closure.
> “This is a transformative event that happened because this is the gateway to really accomplishing the vision of standard designing or doing consistent surgery and being able to accommodate many more surgeons,” Nathan said.
Despite the use of AI to prevent surgical errors, the robot does not operate autonomously. Instead, it is fully controlled by a skilled surgeon, ensuring precision while accommodating different levels of surgeon dexterity.
### Overcoming the Challenges of Eye Surgery
The eye is a uniquely challenging organ for surgical procedures. Its small size and transparent tissue make it difficult to operate on using traditional robotic systems, which are designed for larger working spaces.
> “The eye is very unique. It’s one inch from the back of the eye to the front of the eye. It’s a very small organ. It’s highly unusual… The other really unique thing about the eye is that it’s a transparent tissue,” Nathan explained.
ForSight Robotics is focusing its efforts on cataract surgery due to the condition’s prevalence—the procedure is the most common surgery in all of medicine. With an aging global population, the market for this technology is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
### Enhancing Surgeon Performance and Training
In addition to improving patient outcomes, JASPER is designed to reduce surgeon fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries, which are common among ophthalmologists. The company said that over two-thirds of surgeons report physical strain from performing delicate eye surgeries, with some even ending their careers early due to poor ergonomics.
> “We’re seeing over two-thirds of surgeons report having musculoskeletal issues, and 15% actually terminated their careers early due to poor ergonomics… The first thing I learned in medical school is that in order to give the best results, the best outcomes, you need to be very comfortable in how you operate.”
The system also aims to level the playing field for less experienced surgeons by providing consistency and precision, effectively bringing novice surgeons to an elite level of performance.
### Looking Ahead
ForSight Robotics plans to seek regulatory approval in the U.S., with the goal of bringing JASPER to market within the next few years. The company’s recent $125 million funding round and successful surgical milestone have set the stage for future developments in robotic eye surgery.
> “This is going to be something that helps us to set the bar in terms of what robotic eye surgery is going to be like in the next decade or so.”
As the industry continues to evolve, the combination of robotics, AI, and skilled surgical expertise could redefine cataract procedures and make eye surgery more accessible worldwide.
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**Original Article:** [ForSight Robotics’ road to performing a fully robotic cataract surgery](https://www.therobotreport.com/forsight-robotics-road-to-performing-a-fully-robotic-cataracts-surgery/)
