Angelo Tsirbas

Université Paris Cité, Doheny Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles

Papers

Total Citations

248

H-Index

About

Angelo Tsirbas is a pioneering ophthalmologist and surgeon-researcher whose career has been defined by a singular, transformative mission: bringing robotic technology to the operating room of eye surgery. Working at the intersection of ophthalmology and surgical robotics, Tsirbas has spent nearly two decades systematically exploring whether robots can perform the extraordinarily delicate work demanded by ocular microsurgery. His early landmark paper, "Robotic ocular surgery" (2006, 63 citations), established the conceptual and experimental foundation for the field, demonstrating that the da Vinci Surgical System could be adapted for eye procedures. This was followed by his most influential work, a 2008 feasibility study (103 citations) that rigorously tested robotic instruments in performing 25-gauge vitrectomy, intraocular foreign body removal, and capsulorhexis — procedures requiring extraordinary precision. His subsequent introduction of "The Microhand" (2009, 63 citations) proposed a purpose-built micro-forceps concept specifically designed for robotic ocular applications, addressing a critical instrumentation gap. Through review articles and continued research spanning over a decade, Tsirbas has remained one of the most persistent and recognized voices advocating for robotic vitreoretinal surgery, helping lay the intellectual groundwork for what may become the next revolution in ophthalmic care.