The Philippines has performed the world’s first robotic-assisted cataract surgery, led by local eye center the Asian Eye Institute. The procedure is a technological breakthrough that could change the way eye surgery is performed.
In a statement, the center said the procedure was performed using a robotics-assisted system, the Jasper Platform, which is a proprietary technology of ForSight Robotics, an Israel-based medical technology company.
The process was led by Dr. Alexey Rapoport, and Dr. Robert Edward T. Ang, Senior Consultant and Head of Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Asian Eye Institute, serves as the principal investigator.
“This technological breakthrough marks a change in the way we think about performing eye surgery,” Mr Ang said in a statement.
“Robot-assisted systems like the Jasper Platform have the potential to improve surgical precision, reduce variability, and ultimately make high-quality cataract surgery more accessible to patients who need it most,” he added.
Mr Ang has led efforts at the Asian Eye Institute in advancing ophthalmic research and introducing new technologies aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of eye care.
With technology, he said, the gap between demand and delivery is closing as processes become more efficient and accessible, especially in underserved regions.
Besides robot-assisted cataract surgery, the Asian Eye Institute is also involved in various ongoing research efforts to advance eye care technology and treatment. – Edg Adrian A. Eva
