ESCRS Survey Shifts Industry Dial

Conducted during the 2023 ESCRS Congress in Vienna, the ESCRS Member Survey had a great turnout of 3,173 responders who answered all 129 questions. Some results were published in EuroTimes and the JCRS, but Bruce Allan MD presented more key findings during a dedicated session at the Congress one year later.

Dr Allan noted the survey could be improved by a clear definition of ‘digital operating room’ (OR): a range of digital tools at the surgeon’s disposal for surgical planning, image-guided surgery, automation, outcome tracking, and more. It covers the entire surgical cycle, imaging tools providing information and guidance before surgery, tools to enhance visualisation and safety checks during surgery, and automated outcome tracking feeding back into improved algorithms for surgical planning.

He emphasised that interoperability standards will be pivotal in bringing systems together to make the digital OR a reality.

The survey results indicated physicians doing high surgical volumes were better attuned to digital systems. Data showed that only 25% of physicians with a yearly rate of less than 200 eyes used a digital OR compared to the nearly 44% who operate on more than 1,000 eyes. This is partly because the big providers have money to invest in IT, which underlines the real challenge—making this technology as widely available as possible, he added.

Another survey finding concerned the use of image guidance during surgery. According to the results, 33% of doctors already use image guidance during surgery, while 40% answered they plan to use it in the future. Interestingly, 28% of physicians have no plans to use the technology.

Dr Allan then commented on what respondents thought were the main advantages of working in a digital environment. The top two were improved efficiency and improved workflow. Quite surprisingly, protection from human error and efficiency gains did not show up in the results. More comfort for the surgeon was considered the next most important advantage, highlighting the huge issue of ergonomics in the surgical environment.

Digging deeper into the survey, Dr Allan showed that 41% of surgeons experience occasional pain and discomfort, and 10% constantly struggle with posture issues, which he stressed is a reminder to young doctors to take those extra few seconds to adjust the stool height on the microscope before sitting down.

Regarding the barriers to integration, 75% of respondents selected cost, making it the biggest issue by some distance. According to Dr Allan, this is a clear message. “We need systems that are more accessible, more interconnected, and less costly. We have to keep finding new ways to bring in this change.

“This type of survey data is what shifts the dial with industry providers: they see what we want, which helps them to provide us with the solutions we need,” he concluded.

Dr Allan presented during the 2024 ESCRS Congress in Barcelona.

Bruce Allan MD, FRCS is consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Moorfields Eye Hospital and Professor of Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery at the University College of London, UK. bruce.allan@ucl.ac.uk