Robotic Retinal Dissection Device Trial

This trial will be a prospective interventional surgical case series to pilot the use of a robotic device in retinal surgery. Specifically, the investigators will determine whether particular operations are performed more quickly and safely with robotic assistance. The PRECEYES Surgical System is a robotically assistive device developed by PRECEYES Medical Robotics, a Dutch-based research group at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. It has been designed to enhance surgical precision, specifically for vitreoretinal eye surgery. The device provides accuracy beyond human capabilities of \<10μm in all directions (x, y, z planes). The surgeon is always in control of the instrument by manipulating the motion controller. Patients undergoing one of two operations will be invited to enroll in the study (i.e. consent for the following operations is an eligibility criteria for the study itself): i) those undergoing epiretinal or inner limiting membrane peel, ii) those undergoing subretinal haemorrhage displacement surgery. The study will involve the surgeon performing specific surgical steps of these operations, that require very high levels of precision, with the assistance of the robot. Efficiency, accuracy and safety data will be collected. Eligible study participants will be recruited from the cohort of patients attending the outpatient clinics of the Oxford Eye Hospital who require either ERM/ILM peel or sub retinal haemorrhage displacement surgery. The expected duration and frequency of pre- and post-operative follow up will be identical to standard NHS care for these particular operations i.e. no additional study visits or procedures will be required.