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Robot-Assisted Peripheral Retinal Visualization during Vitrectomy without Scleral Depression: A First-In-Human
Kenta Ashikaga1,2, Yoshihito Sakanishi1,2, Toshiaki Hirakata1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Purpose:
To evaluate the feasibility and short-term safety of peripheral retinal visualization using an intraocular endoscope-holding robot (OQrimo) without scleral depression during vitrectomy, compared with conventional methods.
Design:
Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative, single-center study.
Participants:
Sixteen eyes of 16 patients undergoing 25-gauge vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification for epiretinal membrane.
Methods:
Eight eyes underwent peripheral retinal visualization using the OQrimo system without scleral depression (robot group), and 8 eyes underwent conventional visualization (control group). The range of endoscopic visualization was assessed. Additional outcomes included postoperative inflammation (measured by laser flare photometry), intraoperative pain, surgical time, wound evaluation using anterior segment OCT, and intraoperative or postoperative complications.
Main Outcome Measures:
Feasibility of peripheral retinal visualization and short-term safety outcomes, including intraoperative and postoperative complications.
Results:
Robot-assisted visualization without scleral depression was successfully achieved in 7 of 8 eyes in the robot group (87.5%). One intraoperative device-related event (endoscope breakage) occurred without patient injury. Postoperative flare values at 3 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week were comparable between groups (all P > 0.2). The median surgical time was significantly longer in the robot group (56.0 ± 13.7 minutes) than in the control group (36.5 ± 9.9 minutes; P = 0.002). Wound healing was uneventful, and no major surgical complications were observed in either group.
Conclusions:
Robot-assisted peripheral retinal visualization without scleral depression using the OQrimo system is technically feasible and demonstrates a comparable short-term safety profile to conventional surgery, despite longer operative times in this initial series.
Financial Disclosures:
Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
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