Key Takeaways

  • Haag-Streit introduced Eyesi Surgical 3.0 at AAO 2026, expanding virtual reality-based training capabilities for cataract and vitreoretinal surgery across different levels of surgical experience

  • The platform incorporates new plunger-operated injectors, a combined anterior and posterior segment interface, and redesigned ergonomic features to provide more realistic surgical training

  • Eyesi Surgical 3.0 is designed to support continuous surgical skill development beyond residency, offering advanced simulation scenarios that allow surgeons to practice complex techniques without risk to patients

Haag-Streit announced the global launch of Eyesi Surgical 3.0, the latest generation of its virtual reality-based ophthalmic surgical training platform, at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2026 annual meeting, held October 9-13 in New Orleans.

The updated platform introduces new hardware and software designed to expand surgical simulation beyond foundational cataract training, providing advanced training opportunities for both developing and experienced ophthalmic surgeons.

According to the company, Eyesi Surgical 3.0 builds on more than 20 years of simulator development and incorporates increasingly complex surgical scenarios intended to support continuous skill development while eliminating patient risk during training.

Eyesi Surgical 3.0 features a redesigned interface that supports both anterior and posterior segment surgical training within a single system.

For cataract surgery, the simulator includes 8 incision sites around the model eye's cornea, allowing surgeons to practice procedures from either temporal or superior approaches. For vitreoretinal procedures, the platform incorporates 2 pars plana ports.

The combined patient head design also provides a foundation for potential future training applications, including pars plana anterior vitrectomy.

According to Haag-Streit, these capabilities are intended to support a broader range of surgical techniques and enable users to progress from fundamental skills to more complex procedures.

The platform introduces 2 hand-operated injectors designed to more closely reproduce the tactile and mechanical actions involved in ophthalmic surgery. The injectors incorporate plunger-based operation, allowing users to simulate fluid and material delivery during procedures such as hydrodissection, anterior chamber management with ophthalmic viscosurgical devices, and intraocular lens implantation.

By more closely replicating the handling of surgical instruments, the updated hardware aims to improve the realism of simulation-based training and facilitate the transfer of technical skills to the operating room.

In addition to procedural simulation, Eyesi Surgical 3.0 incorporates redesigned ergonomic features intended to help surgeons develop appropriate positioning and movement patterns during surgery. The platform includes a redesigned operating table, repositioned foot switches, and a tiltable microscope. These modifications are designed to encourage proper ergonomics during routine simulation exercises, allowing surgeons to practice not only intraocular maneuvers but also the physical positioning and coordination required in the operating room.

"The new Eyesi Surgical platform 3.0 marks a watershed moment in virtual reality surgical training," said Marshall Dial, vice president of education and simulation market development at Haag-Streit Group. "Over the past 20 years, simulation has become widely accepted for teaching novice ophthalmic surgeons foundational skills, and numerous peer-reviewed studies validate this efficacy."

The new platform extends these benefits to experienced surgeons through complex advanced training scenarios that support continuous improvement in surgery," Mr. Dial said.

Haag-Streit is showcasing Eyesi Surgical 3.0 at booth 707 during AAO 2026 in New Orleans, where attendees can view the platform following its global introduction.