Life without glasses is great
Eye Centre Prague (OCP) has become the first private clinic in Europe to test a unique surgical technology, inspired by F-35 fighter pilot helmets, designed specifically for eye surgeries. This groundbreaking method uses an XR 3D microscope and special 3D glasses, allowing surgeons to perform procedures with maximum precision and increased safety for patients. The microscope, which responds to the surgeon's gestures and head movements, provides doctors with unprecedented freedom and accuracy during procedures.
The technology from an Israeli company was first introduced in Europe at the state-run University Hospital Ostrava and is now available for four weeks at the first private facility in Europe, Eye Centre Prague. Surgeons at OCP will have the opportunity to test this futuristic system during cataract surgeries, refractive surgeries with intraocular lens implantation, as well as retinal, vitreous, and glaucoma surgeries.
The first procedure using this technology was performed on October 10 by Andrea Janeková, MD, FEBO, FEBOS-CR, Chief Doctor of the cataract, refractive, and vitreoretinal surgery centre.
“For me, it was a completely new experience in surgery. The XR 3D microscope provides the surgeon with a new, more spatial dimension. A significant advantage for the surgeon is that they do not need to constantly lean into the microscope and keep their head and neck in a fixed position. There is greater freedom of movement, which contributes to better ergonomics during surgeries,” Dr. Janeková explains about her first day operating in virtual reality.
In the coming days, additional surgeons at Eye Centre Prague, Chief Doctor of the Clinic Radan Zugar, MD, and Associate Professor Jiří Pašta, MD, CSc., FEBO, will perform surgeries with the aid of virtual reality.
“The development of our technology was inspired by the helmets of F-35 fighter pilots, which display all key information directly in front of the pilot,” explains Marc Cirlin, representative of Beyeonics Surgical. “We brought this concept into the medical field, where microscopes, particularly in ophthalmology, are widely used. It was natural to start with a microscope, as it allows surgeons to have all important data directly in front of their eyes during procedures.”
With the 3D microscope and customizable gestures, doctors can operate with stunning precision while observing every detail in previously unattainable resolution. The real-time display is vivid, realistic, and fully immersive—often described as a “7D experience.
Thanks to multidimensional technology, surgical procedures will become even more precise and safer. It enables surgeons to view the finest details with greater depth of field and accuracy, making their work easier and reducing risks. The microscope is controlled by simple head movements, allowing the surgeon to smoothly zoom in or change viewing angles within the eye. Additionally, it’s possible to display preoperative examination results in the glasses during surgery, enabling more accurate planning and execution of procedures.
Another major benefit of this technology is its revolutionary impact on the education of novice surgeons. “As an eye surgeon, I see the enormous advantage of using this XR 3D microscope not only for my own surgeries but also for educating novice and less experienced surgeons. With this technology, anyone can put on a headset and observe the surgery with an absolutely precise view of every detail in the eye, just as the operating surgeon sees it. This is especially valuable in complex cases, allowing us to share detailed procedures with younger colleagues. Another great advantage is that the microscope can be used for all types of eye surgeries – from cataract operations to glaucoma and retinal and vitreous procedures. This revolutionary device significantly enhances the quality and precision of eye surgery and contributes to the most advanced methods in microsurgery education,” says Dr. Andrea Janeková on the use of new technology for training purposes.
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