Tom Janssens

Papers

Total Citations

198

H-Index

About

Tom Janssens is a pioneering researcher in vitreoretinal surgery, with a focused expertise in developing robotic-assisted interventions for retinal vein occlusion (RVO)—a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. His major contributions center on proving the feasibility of robot-assisted retinal vein cannulation, a minimally invasive technique that directly targets the occluded vessel. In his seminal 2016 study (89 citations), Janssens established a methodology for cannulating porcine retinal venules using a robotic assistive arm after inducing occlusion with the photosensitizer rose bengal. He then validated this approach in an *in vivo* porcine model (2017, 65 citations), demonstrating its practical viability. Beyond mechanical intervention, Janssens explored pharmacological dissolution of clots, showing in a 2016 study (44 citations) that direct intraluminal injection of ocriplasmin could release experimental occlusions. His work challenges the current standard of care, which only manages RVO consequences, by offering a potentially curative, cause-eliminating solution. With over 198 citations across his key papers, Janssens is a leading voice in the convergence of robotics and retinal surgery, advancing treatments that could restore vision rather than merely preserve it.