Apple Vision Pro and cataract surgery: an unexpected but already indispensable assistant

In October 2025, New York ophthalmologist Eric Rosenberg became the first surgeon to perform cataract surgery using an Apple Vision Pro headset. ScopeXR transforms the Apple Vision Pro into a surgical tool. Since then, the doctor has repeated the procedure hundreds of times using ScopeXR, a surgical app he co-developed for Apple's mixed reality headset. ScopeXR streams the feed from digital microscopes in real time, providing a better view of the surgical area. The app also overlays pre-operative data and even allows for remote collaboration with other doctors, who can see what the surgeon sees. This is yet another example of the Apple Vision Pro's success story; while it missed the mainstream market, it found its niche among healthcare professionals. Dr. Rosenberg sees this as a revolution in access to medical expertise: "We are now able to bring the world's best surgeon into any operating room, at any time, from anywhere on the planet," said Dr. Rosenberg. "From interns performing their first surgeries to surgeons facing unexpected complications, this technology democratizes access to expertise, and this will help preserve vision."