Chinese surgeons perform remote retinal injection using a 5G robotic arm 4,000 km away, marking a breakthrough in precision eye surgery.
GUANGZHOU: In a world-first medical milestone, a Chinese team of eye surgeons has successfully completed remote robotic eye surgery from more than 4,000 kilometres away. The procedure, performed on a patient in Urumqi, was controlled in real-time by specialists based in Guangzhou, using a 5G-powered robotic arm and ultra-precise surgical tools.
The operation involved a retinal sub-injection — a delicate microsurgical method used to treat vision-threatening conditions such as submacular haemorrhage. Surgeons at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University, guided a micro-needle to the retina’s surface, pierced it at a pre-set depth, and delivered a targeted dose of medication — all while relying on smooth, uninterrupted remote control.
“This clinical surgery marks a key leap from feasibility to practicality in the field of remote high-precision ophthalmic surgery in China,” said Professor Lin Haotian, the project’s lead.
The robotic arm, stationed at a hospital in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, handled the initial needle positioning, while the team in Guangzhou remotely took over for the actual injection. The procedure lasted under seven minutes and demonstrated micron-level precision without tremors or delays, thanks to 5G’s low-latency connection.
Experts say this marks a major step toward reducing regional healthcare disparities in China, allowing top-tier specialists to offer care in remote regions without needing to be physically present.
