Massachusetts Eye and Ear aims to enhance care for retina patients with new 3D visualization surgical system

May 5 2017

Massachusetts Eye and Ear is enhancing the care it brings to adult and pediatric retina patients with a new and innovative vitreoretinal surgical platform, known as the NGENUITY 3D Visualization System. Designed to enhance the operating experience for retina surgeons and their patients, the new "heads up" technology offers surgeons better visualization in surgery, engenders a more collaborative operating room environment and helps reduce surgeon fatigue. Mass. Eye and Ear is the first medical center in New England to acquire the state-of-the-art system, which will be offered at the hospital's two locations in Boston: 243 Charles Street and 800 Huntington Avenue.

NGENUITY is designed to enhance visualization of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, giving surgeons and operating room staff exceptional resolution, image depth, clarity and color contrast. Two key features are the 3D view, which enhances depth perception, and the ability for surgeons to magnify an image while maintaining a wide field of view. Both features give surgeons an enhanced view of their instruments in relationship to the tissues or structures in the eye, which can improve surgical precision.

The NGenuity system may also facilitate collaboration and better communication among team members in the operating room. The importance of teamwork and its positive impact on patient care were the focus of a feasibility study conducted by a team of Harvard researchers (Annals of Surgery, March 2014). Nearly half of the participants (221 active operating room members) ranked "improving communication" as the most important change they would make in their clinical practice.

"Effective communication is vital to achieving optimal surgical care and patient outcomes," said John B. Miller, M.D., an adult retina surgeon and Director of Retinal Imaging at Mass. Eye and Ear. "By giving everyone in the operating room the same great surgical view, we can work more smoothly as a team to provide even better patient care."

With retina surgeries lasting from thirty minutes to three hours, the ergonomic "heads-up" design of NGenuity is designed to help reduce surgeon fatigue as well as degenerative back and neck disease, common after many years of traditional microscope use. During surgery, the team wears 3D glasses to operate while looking straight ahead at the magnified, high definition 3D screen. Rather than bending their necks to look through the eye-pieces of a microscope, surgeons can sit at their most ergonomic position throughout surgery.

"Heads-up surgery can decrease surgeon fatigue, which may translate into safer surgeries for patients, and longer operating careers for surgeons," said Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D., a pediatric and adult retina surgeon at Mass. Eye and Ear and Boston Children's Hospital. The enhanced 3D visualization also requires lower light levels while maintaining an ultra-crisp view of the retina. "This can potentially reduce light toxicity, which may benefit patients, because although rare, the retina can be damaged from light exposure of conventional surgery if the levels are too intense," said Dr. Yonekawa.

"Leveraging this premium new technology continues our long history of leading surgical excellence in retina care," said Joan W. Miller, M.D., Chief of Ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear and Chair of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. "We are pleased to lead the region in providing the very best care to our pediatric and adult patients with retina disorders."