Anthony DeFino , 2025-05-14 19:30:00
Key takeaways:
- The Beyeonics One system yielded less muscle tension and stiffness than a traditional microscope.
- Using an ophthalmic exoscope may provide long-term ergonomic benefits for surgeons.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Using an ophthalmic exoscope with an augmented reality headset instead of a standard operating microscope may yield ergonomic benefits for ophthalmologists, according to a speaker here.
Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD, who presented at the Retina World Congress on behalf of Anat Loewenstein, MD, reported that 50% of ophthalmologists experience neck, upper body and lower back pain because of their work.
Image: Anthony DeFino
“There is a higher prevalence compared to other specialties, and symptoms are more common in those who spend more time operating,” Kuppermann said. “It may reduce the longevity of a surgical career.”
Loewenstein and colleagues enrolled nine ophthalmic surgeons in a study to compare the surgical ergonomics of a standard operating microscope and the Beyeonics One ophthalmic exoscope (Beyeonics Vision), which includes an augmented reality headset. The enrolled surgeons performed cataract surgery in an artificial laboratory setting, while the researchers measured muscle tension in each participant’s sternocleidomastoid muscle and two upper trapezius points before, during and after the procedure.
While the surgeons did not report any differences in ergonomic experience, the measurements found that the standard operating microscope increased sternocleidomastoid tension during surgery by 5.65%, whereas the Beyeonics system did not significantly affect muscle tension. Sternocleidomastoid stiffness was also higher at the mid-point during surgery when using the standard operating microscope compared with Beyeonics, but there was no significant difference in muscle tension for upper trapezius muscle point one between the two microscopes.
“While surgeons may not perceive any difference in ergonomic experience, their objective muscle qualities show otherwise,” Kuppermann said. “The Beyeonics One system may reduce intraoperative muscle fatigue compared to the standard operating microscope and may have long-term effect on musculoskeletal health, but that remains to be determined.”
Sources/Disclosures
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Loewenstein A. Comparing surgeons’ muscle tension while operating using a standard surgical microscope versus an ophthalmic exoscope with an augmented-reality headset. Presented at: Retina World Congress; May 8-11, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Disclosures:
Loewenstein reports consulting for 4D Molecular Therapeutics, AbbVie, Astellas, Aviceda Therapeutics, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Notal Vision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire Pharma, Opthea, Roche and Voiant Clinical. Healio could not confirm relevant financial disclosures for Kuppermann at the time of publication.