Robotic technology in ophthalmic surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an overview of the history, development, and potential applications of robotic technology, with a focus on ophthalmic surgery. An extensive literature review and authors' own perspectives were taken into account in selecting the most relevant articles from MEDLINE and Google scholar.

RECENT FINDINGS: Most surgical specialties have introduced robots in current use. Although the application of robots in ophthalmic surgery is in its infancy today, its advantages and great potential is quite apparent. As robotics transcends utility and attain wider consensus among the surgical profession, ophthalmologists must acquaint themselves with this novel interdisciplinary field and its relevance to their specialty.

SUMMARY: Future possibilities, including the prospects for nanotechnology in ophthalmology, are awaited.