The world’s first fully robot-assisted cataract surgery has been performed in a human patient.
The procedure was performed with the JASPER Platform by Dr Alexey Rapoport, with Dr Robert Edward T Ang of the Asian Eye Institute in Manila serving as principal investigator.
Unlike previous ophthalmic robotic procedures that only performed partial tasks during cataract surgery, and under general anaesthesia, ForSight Robotics has, for the first time in history, completed a cataract surgery from start to finish without the need for general anaesthesia, aligning with the current standard practice of modern cataract procedures.
Dr Joseph Nathan, ForSight Robotics’ co-founder, president, and CMO, said: ‘This is a defining moment for ophthalmic surgery and the future of global healthcare. With the first successful full robotic cataract procedure in a human patient, this achievement opens the door to dramatically expanding access to sight-restoring surgery for millions around the world.’
The JASPER Platform, formerly known as the ORYOM platform, was built to optimise the workflow and feel of conventional cataract surgery.
It assists surgeons at every step of cataract surgery, empowering them with advanced imaging, precision, and motion scaling that reduce fatigue and variability between procedures.
The platform and surgeon work in harmony, providing advanced dexterity to ensure safer, more accurate patient outcomes.
This approach is designed not only to enhance surgical performance, patient accessibility, and efficiency, but also to safeguard the health and extend the careers of ophthalmic surgeons who commonly experience musculoskeletal disorders caused by sustained, awkward operating postures.
Dr Alexey Rapoport said: Performing the first-in-human cataract surgery with the JASPER Platform has been the highlight of my career. Something we could only dream about a few years ago is now a reality. Standing in the operating room, it was clear we were witnessing the future of eye surgery.’
Over 600 million people worldwide are estimated to need cataract surgery, but the shortage of trained surgeons, combined with the physical toll of performing thousands of microsurgeries each year, has created a mounting public health crisis.
ForSight’s JASPER Platform aims to address this vast, unmet need head-on by democratizing access to high-quality cataract surgery, particularly in underserved regions.
Dr Fred Moll, founder of Intuitive Surgical, Auris Health and ForSight Robotics investor and board member, said: ‘This milestone represents more than a technical achievement. ForSight Robotics is re-envisioning how eye surgery is done and opening the door to greater standardisation across procedures, improved precision, and broader access to vision-saving care.’
