Horizon Surgical Systems has completed the world’s first robotic cataract surgery using its Polaris platform, with the procedure performed by Los Angeles-based surgeon Uday Devgan, M.D., FACS. This milestone represents the convergence of AI-driven visualization and micro-robotic control in ophthalmic surgery, potentially addressing workforce shortages and standardizing outcomes in the most commonly performed operation worldwide.
What you should know: The Polaris system combines artificial intelligence with robotics specifically designed for eye surgery, aiming to reduce variability and increase precision in cataract procedures.
- Cataract surgery is performed more than five million times annually in the United States alone, but outcomes can vary based on surgeon technique, case complexity, and training levels.
- The platform integrates AI-driven visualization with micro-robotic control to standardize procedures while fitting into existing operating room workflows.
- Horizon Surgical Systems plans to treat additional patients in coming months as part of clinical development, working toward FDA approval and commercialization.
Why this matters: The successful procedure addresses critical challenges in global eye care, including surgeon shortages and rising patient demand driven by aging populations.
- Even highly skilled surgeons can encounter subtle inconsistencies across procedures, affecting patient outcomes and safety.
- AI and robotics could help democratize access to high-quality vision care by compensating for human variability, particularly in high-volume or complex cases.
What they’re saying: Medical experts emphasize the transformative potential of combining precision technology with surgical expertise.
- “Every cataract patient deserves the same level of safety, precision, and visual outcome, but the reality is that even the best surgeons can encounter subtle inconsistencies across procedures,” said Devgan. “With Polaris, I experienced a new level of control that directly addresses those challenges.”
- “This first-in-human procedure represents the culmination of more than a decade of innovation and the start of Polaris’ clinical journey,” said Jean Pierre Hubschman, M.D., founder and CEO of Horizon Surgical Systems.
The big picture: Advances in ophthalmic robotics signal a new era where AI algorithms analyze preoperative scans to recommend customized incision plans while intraoperative systems provide real-time tracking of ocular structures.
- Miniaturization of robotic instruments and haptic feedback advances enable microscale maneuvers inside the eye that exceed human dexterity capabilities.
- Cloud-based data systems allow surgical platforms to continuously learn from thousands of cases, refining guidance and control capabilities over time.
- The technology could help address the global shortage of ophthalmic surgeons while improving consistency in surgical outcomes across different skill levels.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...