Key points from article :
Horizon Surgical Systems, founded in 2021 and spun out of UCLA, is developing automated, AI-powered robotic tools aimed at improving eye surgery precision. The company recently raised $30 million in a Series A funding round led by ExSight Ventures, with additional backing from Main Street Advisors and UC Investments. The funds will be used for Horizon's first human trials.
Horizon’s Polaris system is designed to aid in cataract removal, which involves extracting the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries globally, and Horizon expects the number of procedures to increase significantly in the coming decades as populations age. The Polaris system aims to make these surgeries faster, more precise, and with fewer complications. It uses AI computer vision to minimise the natural tremors in a surgeon's hands, automate repetitive steps, and standardise actions like making incisions, removing cataracts, and inserting intraocular lenses.
Polaris system could help usher in a new era of surgical robotics, enabling unmatched accuracy and efficiency during cataract operations. ExSight Ventures' founder, Firas Rahhal, expressed optimism, suggesting that the technology could lead to more consistent results and fewer complications for patients.
By integrating AI and robotics, Horizon Surgical aims to not only improve surgical precision but also increase the number of cataract procedures that can be completed daily, even with limited staff. This technology, if successful, could significantly impact the growing demand for cataract surgeries worldwide, ensuring high-quality outcomes for more patients.
