The eye in AI: World’s first AI-driven robotic cataract surgery completed successfully

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.