Apple Vision Pro Reduces Pain and Injury for Surgeons

Surgery underway using Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro is gaining recognition from surgeons for its high-resolution imaging and ergonomic design, which could potentially reduce the physical strain that often leads to early retirement. Since its launch in February 2024, the device has been utilized by surgeons in the United States and around the world. Santiago Horgan, a pioneering surgeon in robotically assisted gastric-bypass operations, is now an advocate for the Apple Vision Pro, praising its benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Horgan, who leads the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego, emphasized the significance of the Apple Vision Pro, stating it could have a larger impact than the robotic tool he used in the year 2000. According to him, the device offers a level of technological advancement that will touch more lives due to its accessibility. Horgan had previously experimented with other augmented reality devices like Microsoft’s HoloLens and Google Glass but found their image resolution insufficient. In September 2023, using a pre-release version of the Apple Vision Pro, Horgan and his team successfully performed a paraesophageal hernia surgery.

“We were all amazed—it exceeded our expectations,” Horgan said. “Normally, I would have to pause the operation to review a CT scan or check the endoscopy feed, but with Apple Vision Pro, I was able to remain focused on the surgery.” This streamlined approach benefits both the surgeon and the patient, reducing time spent on the operating table and lessening the physical strain on the surgeon.

A 2022 study reported that 20% of surgeons considered early retirement due to discomfort experienced during operations. The need to monitor various screens and sources of information during procedures can cause physical pain, potentially leading to earlier exits from the profession. If Apple Vision Pro helps extend surgeons’ careers, the cost of the device is easily justified. Christopher Longhurst, chief clinical and innovation officer at UC San Diego Health, noted that the price of the headset is minimal in the context of healthcare budgets. “Monitors in operating rooms can cost between $20,000 and $30,000,” Longhurst explained. “At $3,500, the headset is practically insignificant by comparison.”

Longhurst’s team is also using Apple Vision Pro for 3D radiology imaging and other medical applications, and they believe that the device could become a standard tool in operating rooms worldwide in the near future.

Similarly, Miguel Burch, head of general surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, highlighted the advantage of having a single, versatile device. He explained that, in the past, augmented reality devices were often tied to specific systems, requiring multiple headsets and monitors. “With the Apple Vision Pro, you can connect it to anything with a video feed,” Burch said.

Burch also pointed out that the device could help address a persistent issue in the profession—surgeons suffering injuries due to the physical demands of minimally invasive surgeries. He personally experienced three such injuries and believes the Apple Vision Pro could provide an ergonomic solution, potentially allowing surgeons to work longer and more comfortably.

In the UK, a surgical assistant who had previously used Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 switched to the Apple Vision Pro in March 2024, describing it as a “gamechanger” for the medical field.