2026 International Eye Conference Focuses on Smart Healthcare: Sun Chi-Chin Analyzes How Robotic Cataract Surgery Protects Vision

When robots enter the cataract operating room, patients are often less concerned about how advanced the technology is, and more focused on whether the surgery can be more stable, safer, and whether the surgeon still maintains control over every critical decision.

The 2026 joint annual meeting of the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and the Taiwan Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (TSCRS) was held in Taiwan, bringing together 47 international ophthalmology speakers from 15 countries. Dr. Sun Chi-Chin, Vice President of Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, noted that Dr. Uday Devgan from the United States shared his experience with the world’s first robotic-assisted cataract surgery, indicating that ophthalmic care is progressively entering a smart era integrating artificial intelligence, image recognition, and precision control.

Dr. Sun emphasized that AI and robotic technologies will gradually integrate ophthalmic examinations, surgical planning, and clinical decision-making, driving ophthalmology toward greater intelligence and precision. (Photo provided by Dr. Sun Chi-Chin)

Minor Operational Differences Can Affect Surgical Outcomes

Dr. Sun explained that although cataract surgery is already a highly mature ophthalmic procedure, the intraocular space is extremely small, and even minor operational differences may affect outcomes. Even experienced surgeons can be influenced by fatigue, long working hours, or hand tremors.

The advantage of robots lies in their ability to maintain stable and consistent operations, reducing human variability. Dr. Uday Devgan completed the world’s first robotic-assisted cataract surgery in 2025 and has since accumulated 10 cases within one year, primarily focusing on relatively straightforward cataract cases.

Dr. Sun believes that as image recognition, sensing systems, and instrument control capabilities improve, this technology could eventually extend to more delicate ophthalmic procedures such as retinal surgery.

AI Adds an Extra Layer of Safety, but Surgeons Remain in Control

The key value of robotic surgery lies not only in mechanical stability but also in its integration with artificial intelligence and intraoperative navigation systems.

Dr. Sun pointed out that the system can identify intraocular tissues, instrument positions, and safety boundaries in real time. For example, during cataract phacoemulsification surgery, when the instrument approaches critical structures such as the posterior capsule, the system can issue warnings or automatically stop or adjust movements based on preset parameters, reducing the risk of continued operation in high-risk areas.

Since cataract patients are often elderly, they may suddenly move during surgery due to anxiety or discomfort. The robot’s sensing and response capabilities are expected to provide surgeons with an additional layer of safety support.

However, Dr. Sun emphasized that robots do not replace surgeons. The entire surgical process must still be fully managed by a qualified physician, who must make immediate judgments and intervene if the patient moves, intraocular conditions change, or unexpected situations arise.

Taiwan Cannot Simply Replicate Overseas Experiences

Expanding the application of robotic cataract surgery in Taiwan requires consideration of different clinical workflows.

Dr. Sun noted that some medical institutions in the United States may use sedation anesthesia for cataract surgery, whereas Taiwan primarily relies on topical anesthesia, with patients typically remaining awake. Different anesthesia methods and medical environments mean overseas experiences cannot be directly transplanted, and Taiwan must accumulate local clinical data and case studies.

Moreover, current technology is mainly applied to relatively simple cases. For patients with iris abnormalities, corneal opacity, or other complex intraocular conditions, the surgeon’s experience and clinical judgment remain irreplaceable.

Dr. Uday Devgan, an ophthalmology expert from California, USA, delivered a keynote speech at the 2026 ISRS–TSCRS Joint Annual Meeting, sharing clinical insights and future developments from the world’s first robotic-assisted cataract surgery. (Photo provided by Dr. Sun Chi-Chin)

Smart Ophthalmology Transforms the Entire Patient Journey

Dr. Sun believes that AI’s deeper impact on ophthalmic care may extend beyond the operating room, transforming the entire patient journey from examination and diagnosis to treatment.

In the future, AI could assist in scheduling examinations, identifying missing items, and integrating patient data such as age, vision, imaging, medical history, and health information. This would help physicians detect potential issues like glaucoma or retinal diseases, and evaluate suitable surgical approaches and intraocular lens selections.

For patients, the true value of smart healthcare is not more tests or newer equipment, but more complete information, smoother processes, and enabling physicians to make more personalized and appropriate decisions based on each individual’s eye condition.

Group photo of ISRS and TSCRS board members and invited international and domestic ophthalmology experts. Dr. Sun hopes that through international exchange, Taiwan’s participation in smart ophthalmology and clinical research will be enhanced. (Photo provided by Dr. Sun Chi-Chin)

Technology Does Not Replace Physicians, But Helps Them Make Better Decisions

Dr. Sun pointed out that future ophthalmologists will need not only clinical judgment and surgical skills but also an understanding of artificial intelligence, data analysis, and system limitations, and must collaborate with experts in information technology, engineering, and statistics.

He believes that Taiwan, with its mature healthcare system, rich clinical experience, and strong technological industry foundation, should not merely adopt new technologies but actively participate in clinical validation and smart healthcare research.

Robotic cataract surgery demonstrates not the replacement of physicians by machines, but how technology helps reduce operational variability, strengthens safety mechanisms, and enables more precise medical decisions for patients based on more comprehensive information.