You may know Apple Vision Pro as a futuristic headset that takes virtual reality to the next level, letting you immerse yourself in videos or feel like you are courtside at a basketball game. Apple envisioned entertainment as the main benefit, but spatial computing can do so much more.
At Sharp HealthCare, it just changed eye surgery.
“What if your surgeon never had to look away?”
That is the question Dr. Tommy Korn, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group and the Chief Spatial Computing Officer at Sharp HealthCare, has been asking for years. Recently, he took a major step toward answering it by performing one of the world’s first cataract surgeries using Apple Vision Pro. With ultra-clear, real-time 3D vision and a wider field of view, Dr. Korn and his team are helping define the future of eye surgery.
“The eye demands absolute precision. Spatial computing delivers it,” Dr. Korn shared with GB Magazine. This study is a breakthrough that positions Sharp at the forefront. It happened here because of an inquisitive physician, a committed health care organization and a community that believes in possibility.
A decades-old problem
For years, surgeons have looked through narrow microscopes to perform delicate procedures, from cataract surgery to brain surgery. But to get imaging data, patient information or anything else, they have to look away from the microscope. It is not efficient or comfortable. Studies show that 80 percent of surgeons ultimately report neck or back pain over their careers. When surgeons retire early or miss critical time in the operating room because of physical pain, it means more patients are waiting for care. With the boon of spatial computing technology, Dr. Korn saw an opportunity to change that.
A first-of-its-kind study
Through this groundbreaking research, Dr. Korn and his team are evaluating Apple Vision Pro’s safety and effectiveness for both the patient and the surgeon. Using the Apple Vision Pro headset, a ZEISS Artevo 3D digital surgical microscope and ClearSurgery’s ClearSphere app, Dr. Korn is determining how spatial computing impacts surgical precision, ergonomics and workflow. “Cataract surgery is the most performed surgical procedure on the planet. Today, there is a backlog of patients and a shortage of surgeons. I believe this technology will improve the experience for both patients and physicians,” added Dr. Korn.
An investment to make it a reality
Behind every bold idea is someone willing to fund it. The technology and the study itself were funded because donors gave generously to Sharp HealthCare Foundation. “When people invest in Sharp, we can respond quickly to innovative, life-changing ideas, like this one,” explains Bill Littlejohn, CEO and Senior Vice President of the Foundations of Sharp HealthCare. “This is a perfect example of what generosity unlocks, and how we are able to do more for our patients and our caregivers.”
“This technology came out of nowhere, and when Apple revealed it, we saw the future,” says Dr. Korn. “We were able to take that vision and bring it to the present because of philanthropy. Our donors help us bring The Sharp Experience to the community in ways we never previously imagined.”
To learn more or support innovation at Sharp HealthCare, visit www.sharp.com/envision.
