Breakthrough procedure demonstrates precision, consistency, and efficiency using micro-robotics and AI-supported technology developed specifically for ophthalmology

Horizon Surgical Systems (Horizon), a robotics company revolutionizing ophthalmic surgery through the application of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), today announced the world’s first cataract surgery performed using the Polaris™* platform. The milestone procedure was completed by Uday Devgan, M.D., FACS, a world-renowned cataract surgeon based in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal step toward a new standard of precision and safety in eye surgery.

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The Polaris™* platform is the world’s first AI-supported and robotics-enabled surgical system developed specifically for ophthalmology.

Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed operation worldwide, with more than 5 million procedures annually in the U.S. alone.¹ While success rates are high, outcomes can vary based on surgeon technique, case complexity, and training level, factors that are increasingly challenging amid workforce shortages and rising patient demand. Polaris is the first surgical platform purpose-built for ophthalmology that fuses AI-driven visualization with micro-robotic control, aiming to reduce variability, increase precision, and integrate seamlessly into established operating room workflows.

“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 Dr. Devgan. “With Polaris, I experienced a new level of control that directly addresses those challenges. It has the potential to deliver more reliable outcomes for patients while giving surgeons the confidence that every case can be approached with greater consistency.”

“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. “Polaris was designed to extend surgeons’ capabilities by delivering greater precision while enhancing safety and efficiency in ophthalmic surgery. Achieving the world’s first successful robotic cataract surgery is a landmark milestone that underscores how robotics and AI can help address some of the most pressing challenges in global eye care.”

In the coming months, Horizon expects to treat additional patients and demonstrate the expanded capabilities of Polaris, with the ultimate goal of securing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and commercialization.

About Horizon Surgical Systems

Horizon Surgical Systems is revolutionizing ophthalmic surgery through the application of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). It is led by CEO Jean-Pierre Hubschman, M.D., Chief Technology Officer and surgical robotics pioneer Jacob Rosen, Ph.D., Chief Strategy and Medical Officer Rajesh K. Rajpal, M.D., and Chief Product Officer Pooria Kashani, Ph.D. With more than 15 years of incubation, it was spun out of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and founded by Drs. Hubschman and Rosen. The company’s flagship Polaris™* platform is the world’s first AI-supported and robotics-enabled surgical system developed specifically for ophthalmology. Designed to extend, not replace, surgeons’ capabilities, Polaris aims to deliver consistent outcomes, greater precision, and improved efficiency while addressing the global challenge of rising patient demand and healthcare provider workforce shortages. Learn more at horizonsurgicalsystems.com.

*Polaris™ is for investigational use only and not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

References:

1. National Library of Medicine – Cataract Surgery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559253/

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