Horizon Surgical Systems announced that it has completed the first performance of its artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled robotics platform—dubbed Polaris—for cataract surgery.
First, a look at Horizon.
The Malibu, California-headquartered Horizon Surgical is a private medical-robotics company specializing in developing assistive surgical robotics.
Its origins: Can be traced back to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where it was founded by current CEO Jean-Pierre Hubschmann and Chief Technology Officer Jacobe Rosen, PhD, and eventually spun out into an independent company.
- In its own words: The company’s goal is to “make eye surgery more precise, consistent, and accessible”—all because “restoring clear vision changes lives.”
Key to this: The Polaris platform (which we’ll get to in a moment).
Didn't we just hear about this company?
Indeed. Last month, in fact, with the addition of a new executive to its leadership team. And prior to that, Horizon secured major funding for its platform. The timeline of these events (starting with most recent):
- September 2025: The appointment of a new chief strategy and medical officer (Rajesh K. Rajpal, MD).
- October 2024: The closing of $30 million in Series A financing to support continued advancement of its robotics platform technology in first-in-human (FIH) trials.
Now tell me about Polaris.
Polaris is a surgical platform “purpose-built” for ophthalmology (specifically: ophthalmic surgery).
Specifically: It incorporates AI-based visualization and micro-robotic control to assist surgeons with ensuring three key achievements in the operating room (OR) during cataract surgery:
- Reduced variability
- Increased precision
- Easy integration into OR workflows
Importantly: The purpose behind this platform isn’t to replace surgeons but to extend their current capabilities, the company emphasized.
Let’s talk design.
The platform features microsurgical robotics “engineered specifically for … the human eye,” and—ideally—offers both dexterity and steadiness for surgeons to operate with “tool-tip precision” that—according to Horizon—isn’t achievable by human hands.
Explain how AI is fused into the platform.
Polaris brings together robotics, advanced imaging, and AI into one integrated platform, according to Horizon founder and CEO Jean Pierre Hubschman, MD.
- “Its microsurgical robotic arms provide unmatched precision and control, while the AI continuously analyzes imaging data to differentiate tissues and guide every move in real time,” he shared with Glance.
Go on ..
Also key to its design is Polaris’s ability to learn and improve with each procedure it performs.
Why: This gives surgeons a “new level of control” that allows them to not only extend their capabilities and provide “consistent, precise outcomes” for patients, but also to directly address common challenges associated with standard cataract surgery.
- Take note: While this form of ophthalmic surgery is known for its high success rate, variable outcomes can be influenced by:
- A surgeon’s technique
- Case complexity
- Training levels
Talk about these extended capabilities.
Dr. Hubschman noted that, while Horizon’s initial focus for Polaris is on addressing cataracts, the system also has the potential to expand its use to other ophthalmic surgical areas:
- Glaucoma (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery [MIGS])
- Retina surgery
Alrighty, now to these first-in-human procedures.
First thing to know: It was more than one procedure—in fact, 10 patients successfully underwent complete cataract surgeries via the Polaris system.
- To note: No specific details were provided on these patients.
The surgeries were performed in El Salvador by Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, a cataract surgeon in practice at Devgan Eye Surgery in Los Angeles, California.
Any adverse events reported?
Not so far, according to Dr. Hubschman.
What feedback did the surgeon give on the procedures?
As Dr. Devgan noted, “even the best surgeons can encounter subtle inconsistencies across procedures."
- “With Polaris, I experienced a new level of control that directly addresses those challenges,” he shared. “It has the potential to deliver more reliable outcomes for patients while giving surgeons the confidence that every case can be approached with greater consistency.”
Nice! So let’s talk future: What’s the plan for FDA clearance?
The company expects to treat additional patients using the Polaris platform over the next few months—with big plans for 2026.
Per Dr. Hubschman: The plan is to gather additional data from ongoing studies evaluating the Polaris to determine the “next phase of system improvements” as well as:
- Continue its leadership team expansion
- Advance Polaris towards submitting to the FDA for clinical trials
And the endgame goal?
Potential U.S. regulatory approval and commercialization.