SightMD performs cataract surgeries using mixed reality headset

Background

SightMD, a rapidly-growing ophthalmology group with more than 100 doctors across 38 locations in New York and neighbouring states, announced a world first in April 2026: the first use of a mixed reality spatial computing headset for cataract surgery. The milestone began in October 2025 at SightMD's surgical facility in Hauppauge, New York, when Dr. Eric Rosenberg, DO, MSE, became the first surgeon in the world to use the Apple Vision Pro as the primary visualisation tool for a cataract procedure.

The deployment

The capability is enabled by ScopeXR, a mixed reality surgical platform co-developed by Dr. Rosenberg specifically for ophthalmic surgery. ScopeXR integrates with existing 3D digital surgical microscopes via HDMI, USB, and wireless NDI protocols, streaming a live stereoscopic feed directly into the headset. The surgeon views the operative field in immersive stereoscopic 3D while simultaneously accessing real-time surgical overlays and pre-operative diagnostic data -- all without breaking sterile technique.

Since the initial procedure, Dr. Rosenberg and his team have used the platform for hundreds of additional cataract cases, demonstrating both clinical scalability and real-world impact.

Remote collaboration

One of ScopeXR's most consequential features is real-time remote collaboration. External surgeons, mentors, consultants, and medical students can virtually join a procedure from anywhere in the world, seeing exactly what the operating surgeon sees -- including the live microscope feed and diagnostic overlays -- via secure two-way audio. This turns any SightMD operating room into a globally connected surgical environment.

Outlook

ScopeXR is expected to expand beyond ophthalmology into other surgical specialties, with ongoing work on clinical research and regulatory pathways. The Apple Vision Pro's $3,499 price point is considered cost-effective relative to traditional specialised surgical visualisation equipment, reinforcing the commercial case for broader adoption.

Quotes

“What we accomplished in that operating room is something that has never been done before anywhere in the world. This isn't just about a new device, it's about reimagining what the operating room of the future looks like.”

“We are now able to bring the world's best surgeon into any operating room, at any hour, from anywhere on the planet.”

“SightMD has always believed that our patients deserve access to the most advanced care available anywhere in the world. We are proud that SightMD is the place where this next chapter of ophthalmic innovation began.”