By 
“What if your surgeon never had to look away?”
That’s the question Dr. Tommy Korn, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group and the Chief Spatial Computing Officer at Sharp HealthCare, has been asking for years. Recently, he took a major step toward answering it by performing one of the world’s first cataract surgeries using Apple Vision Pro.
“The eye demands absolute precision. Spatial computing delivers it,” says Dr. Korn.
A Decades-Old Problem
For years, surgeons have looked down through narrow microscopes to perform delicate procedures. But to get imaging data or patient information, they have to look away from the microscope. Studies show that 80 percent of surgeons ultimately report neck or back pain over their careers. When surgeons retire early because of physical pain, more patients are waiting for care.
A First-of-Its-Kind Study
Using the Apple Vision Pro headset, a ZEISS Artevo 3D digital surgical microscope, and ClearSurgery’s ClearSphere app, Dr. Korn is evaluating how spatial computing impacts surgical precision, ergonomics, and workflow.
“Cataract surgery is the most performed surgical procedure on the planet. Today, there is a backlog of patients and a shortage of surgeons. I believe this technology will improve the experience for both patients and physicians,” says Dr. Korn.
The technology and the study were funded through philanthropy at Sharp HealthCare Foundation. “This technology came out of nowhere, and when Apple revealed it, we saw the future,” says Dr. Korn. “We were able to take that vision and bring it to the present because of philanthropy.”
To support innovation at Sharp HealthCare, visit sharp.com/envision.
Comments