8K ultra-high-definition microscopic camera for ophthalmic surgery

BACKGROUND: We have developed a new compact lightweight 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD; 7,680×4,320 pixels) camera and started medical application with an ophthalmic surgical microscope which is interchangeable with the conventional high-definition (1,920×1,080 pixels)/4K UHD (3,840×2,160 pixels) microscopic camera. METHODS: We did a feasibility study to apply our 8K UHD microscope in cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery and vitreous surgery using pig cadaver eyes. The 8K UHD microscope comprises a surgical microscope, a camera adaptor with relay lenses, an 8K UHD camera and an 8K UHD LCD to share the 8K UHD images with all surgical staff in real time. RESULTS: In ophthalmic surgeries, higher resolution images than conventional microscopic cameras were obtained with 8K UHD LCD equivalent to the observation through the microscopic eye pieces. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this feasibility study, clinical trials on human ophthalmic surgery using the new 8K UHD microscopic camera should be conducted in the near future.