Is remote robotic subretinal injection feasible?

A remote surgeon completed the precision injection without intraoperative complications in a single-case proof-of-concept report.

By
Andrea Surnit
September 2, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Background

Submacular hemorrhage can lead to significant vision loss, and timely intervention is crucial for optimal outcomes. Traditional methods of treatment often require direct surgeon involvement, which can be limited by geographical constraints.

Data Highlights

Outcome	Result
Procedural Time	46 minutes
Robotic Instrument Insertion Time	7 minutes
Volume of rt-PA Delivered	0.056 mL
Mean Network Latency	77.9 ms
BCVA Preoperative	0.6 logMAR (20/80)
BCVA at 3 Months	0.6 logMAR (20/80)

Key Findings

The remote robotic injection was successfully completed without intraoperative complications.
No serious adverse events occurred during the 3-month follow-up period.
Progressive resolution of submacular hemorrhage was observed, with complete resolution by postoperative day 23.
Despite anatomical improvement, there was no change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months.
The study highlights the need for larger multicenter studies to evaluate safety and efficacy.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that remote robotic-assisted subretinal injection is technically feasible and safe, potentially expanding treatment access for patients with submacular hemorrhage. However, the lack of improvement in visual acuity despite anatomical resolution indicates the need for timely intervention.