A Chinese robot performs eye surgery with 100% accuracy – a medical revolution

In a groundbreaking development in medicine and microsurgery, Chinese scientists have successfully developed an advanced robotic system capable of performing highly precise injections inside the human eye. This innovation addresses one of the most complex challenges in modern medicine: operating in the narrow and delicate spaces of the eye, promising a radical improvement in the safety and accuracy of surgical procedures for treating intractable retinal diseases.

The context of medical development and the need for automation

Historically, eye surgeries, particularly those involving the retina and microvascular structures, have posed a formidable challenge to surgeons worldwide. The human hand, regardless of the surgeon's skill, is subject to natural physiological vibrations that can affect the precision of injections in areas as small as micrometers. This has led to a pressing need to integrate robotic technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance human capabilities and overcome biological limitations, a focus of global medical research over the past decade.

Details of the Chinese achievement

According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, this innovative surgical robot was developed by a specialized research team from the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The system demonstrated exceptional efficiency during preclinical trials, successfully performing precise subretinal and intravascular injections in animal studies, achieving a remarkable 100% success rate.

Record numbers in reducing errors

The results of experiments based on eye simulation models showed a clear superiority of the automated system compared to traditional methods and previous technologies:

• Compared to manual surgery: The robot reduced the average injection positioning errors by nearly 80%, reflecting an accuracy that the human hand cannot easily match.
• Compared to robotic-guided surgery: The new automated system even outperformed robotic systems controlled remotely by surgeons, reducing the error rate by about 55%, indicating the efficiency of automated algorithms in making precise motor decisions.

Future prospects and global impact

The research team emphasized that the importance of this innovation extends beyond simply increasing surgical success rates; it encompasses broad logistical and humanitarian dimensions. This system enhances the consistency and safety of surgical procedures, thereby reducing potential postoperative complications.

Furthermore, this development opens up a new era of telemedicine, enabling robots to perform complex surgeries in remote areas or harsh environments lacking highly experienced surgeons. This contributes to achieving healthcare equity and providing advanced medical care to underserved populations. The system will also significantly reduce the lengthy training periods required for ophthalmologists, as the machine will handle the most delicate and complex tasks.