Bart Jonckx

Papers

Total Citations

198

H-Index

About

Bart Jonckx is a pioneering researcher in ophthalmic microsurgery, whose work centers on developing robotic-assisted interventions for retinal vein occlusion (RVO)—a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. His major contribution lies in demonstrating the feasibility of robot-assisted cannulation of occluded retinal veins, a technique that directly targets the underlying clot rather than merely managing symptoms. In his seminal 2016 study (89 citations), Jonckx established a methodology for cannulating porcine retinal venules using a robotic assistive arm following induced occlusion, while his 2017 in vivo work (65 citations) confirmed the procedure's viability in a living model. Most notably, his 2016 investigation into direct intraluminal injection of ocriplasmin (44 citations) showed promise for dissolving clots at their source, potentially offering a more permanent solution than current therapies. By combining precision robotics with pharmacological thrombolysis, Jonckx has opened a new frontier in treating RVO, moving beyond symptomatic relief toward causal intervention. His work represents a critical step toward translating these techniques into human clinical trials, with the potential to restore vision in millions of patients worldwide.