ForSight Robotics announced in a press release the successful completion of the world’s first fully robot-assisted cataract surgery performed in a human patient using its proprietary Jasper platform.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Alexey Rapoport, with Dr. Robert Edward T. Ang of the Asian Eye Institute in Manila serving as principal investigator. The cataract surgery was completed from start to finish without the need for general anesthesia, aligning with the current standard practice of modern cataract procedures, ForSight Robotics said in the press release.
“This is a defining moment for ophthalmic surgery and the future of global health care,” said Dr. Joseph Nathan, ForSight Robotics’ co-founder, president, and CMO. "With the first successful full robotic cataract procedure in a human patient, this achievement opens the door to dramatically expanding access to sight-restoring surgery for millions around the world.”
According to ForSight Robotics, the Jasper platform, formerly known as the Oryom platform, was built to optimize the workflow and feel of conventional cataract surgery. Specifically, it assists surgeons with every step of cataract surgeries, empowering them with advanced imaging, precision, and motion scaling that reduce surgeon fatigue and variability between procedures, the company said.
The platform and surgeon work in harmony, providing advanced dexterity aimed to ensure safer and more accurate patient outcomes. This approach is designed to not only enhance surgical performance, accessibility for patients, and efficiency, but also to safeguard the health and extend the careers of ophthalmic surgeons, the company noted.
“Performing the first-in-human cataract surgery with the Jasper Platform has been the highlight of my career,” said Dr. Rapoport. “Something we could only dream about a few years ago is now a reality. Standing in the operating room, it was clear we were witnessing the future of eye surgery.”
Dr. Rapoport continued, "Over time, the physical demands of surgery and the awkward positions surgeons often work in can take a real toll. Jasper changes that experience by improving ergonomics while also giving the surgeon greater precision, stability, and control. What is especially powerful is the ability to perform with a higher level of consistency from one surgery to the next. For me, operating more comfortably means sustaining performance over time—and that ultimately benefits every patient we treat," he said.
Over 600 million people worldwide are estimated to need cataract surgery, an approximation built on population data from key global regions, yet only around 30 million surgeries are performed annually.1 ForSight Robotics said the Jasper platform aims to address this unmet need by democratizing access to high-quality cataract surgery, particularly in underserved regions.
Building on its Series B funding in 2025 and its first-in-human procedure, ForSight Robotics said it will now advance toward clinical validation and regulatory submissions, paving the way for a new era in which robotic technology could help scale high-quality eye surgery to patients worldwide.
“This milestone represents more than a technical achievement. ForSight Robotics is re-envisioning how eye surgery is done and opening the door to greater standardization across procedures, improved precision, and broader access to vision-saving care,” said Dr. Fred Moll, founder of Intuitive Surgical and Auris Health and ForSight Robotics investor and board member.
Reference
Chen X, Xu J, Chen X, Yao K. Cataract: Advances in surgery and whether surgery remains the only treatment in future. Adv Ophthalmol Pract Res. 2021;1(1):100008. Published 2021 Oct 21. doi:10.1016/j.aopr.2021.100008