Adopt 3D, AI, robotics in retina ORs

Retina Today said in an April 2026 feature that 3D digital displays, artificial intelligence and robotics are being integrated into retina operating rooms as surgeons look to improve visualization, ergonomics, planning and precision. The article, “OR Tech Update: 3D Displays, AI, and Robotics,” described the shift as part of a broader digital workflow that links preoperative prediction tools with intraoperative guidance and instrument control. The publication’s May 22, 2026 social post highlighted the same themes and pointed readers back to the feature. ### Where are 3D systems already changing retina surgery? Retina Today said 3D digital visualization is already changing how surgeons view the field during vitreoretinal procedures. The article said the systems can improve depth perception and surgeon posture by moving the surgeon from microscope eyepieces to a heads-up display. (retinatoday.com) A 2023 Retina Today article by Reem Amine, Leanne M. Clevenger and Justis P. Ehlers said early adoption of 3D heads-up display requires preoperative planning, operating-room layout changes and simulation before live cases. That article listed room setup, screen position and intraoperative maneuvering among the practical issues surgeons need to solve before routine use. (retinatoday.com) Retinal Physician wrote in May 2024 that display, robotic and imaging technologies in retinal surgery are aimed at improving precision and training. A January 2026 Retinal Physician article added that lower illumination with 3D systems may reduce theoretical retinal light injury risk, while also noting room-orientation constraints for assistants viewing the operating screen. (retinatoday.com) ### What is AI doing in the retina OR right now? Retina Today said AI is being used upstream of the incision as well as during surgery. The April 2026 article described preoperative forecasting models that can guide counseling and planning, and it framed AI as part of a data-driven workflow rather than a standalone operating-room gadget. (retinalphysician.com) A 2024 review in *Ophthalmology Retina* said recent advances in vitreoretinal surgery include imaging, surgical visualization, robotics technology and artificial intelligence for surgical retinal diseases. Retina Today’s 2025 supplement on AI in diagnosis and management said AI is moving beyond 2D image reading toward more detailed retinal-layer analysis, showing how the same technology stack is expanding across diagnosis and operative planning. (retinatoday.com) ### How close is robotics to routine retinal surgery? Retina Today said robotics is being developed to enhance precision and efficiency in the operating room, but it did not present robotics as standard of care across retina practices. The article placed robotics alongside visualization and AI as part of a staged technology buildout. (ophthalmologyretina.org) A November/December 2025 Retina Today review named the Preceyes Surgical System, OQrimo and ORYOM among platforms being explored for membrane peeling, subretinal injection and vascular cannulation. That review said barriers to adoption include high upfront and ongoing costs, limited commercial availability and lack of differentiated reimbursement. (retinatoday.com) The American Academy of Ophthalmology said in a 2025 EyeNet article that robotics has advanced more slowly in ophthalmology than in fields such as urology and orthopedics, even as the technology moves closer to eye surgery applications. The article quoted vitreoretinal surgeon Maria H. Berrocal as saying robots are already part of some routine eye procedures in the United States and elsewhere. (retinatoday.com) ### Why does the training point matter so much? Retina Today said the case for adoption depends on structured training and evidence-based workflows, not simply placing new devices in operating theatres. That emphasis runs through the publication’s recent retina surgery coverage, which repeatedly ties new hardware to simulation, room design, workflow validation and surgeon familiarity. (aao.org) The April 2026 feature described a modern ophthalmic workflow that connects prediction, visualization and intraoperative performance. That framing suggests the next step is less about a single machine than about how retina teams standardize setup, training and case selection before broader routine use. Retina Today’s May/June 2026 issue and related surgery coverage remain the clearest place to track the next published updates on 3D systems, AI tools and robotics in retinal surgery. (retinatoday.com 1) (retinatoday.com 2)