Use Case for European Robotics in Ophthalmologic Micro-Surgery

Abstract

Vitreo-retinal surgery is used as a denominator of a set of particularly demanding micro-surgical interventions that take place on the retina at the far side of the eye. The associated interventions require extreme precise instrument manipulation in order to be able to safely work on fragile membranes or vessels in charge of blood circulation. Motions lie close to or even go beyond the limits of human motion capability. Referral of patients to the limited number of expert centers is frequent. Some eye problems require such high levels of precision that they cannot be treated adequately at present. Affected patients have no effective treatment options and endure a significantly reduced quality of life. EurEyeCase is a new research project funded under the Horizon 2020 framework that aims at overcoming the present status quo through progressing robot-assisted ophthalmologic micro-surgery. This extended abstract introduces the EurEyeCase objectives and the technology that is being developed.