Surgical innovation is an important part of surgical research and practice. The evaluation of surgical innovation through the stages is similar to those for drug development, but with important differences. The Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term follow-up (IDEAL) Framework and Recommendations represent a new paradigm for the evaluation of surgical intervention and devices which was developed in 2009. The IDEAL is a five-stage framework involving the nature stages of surgical innovation, together with recommendations for surgical research pathway. The Framework and Recommendations were updated and published in 2019, which added a pre-IDEAL stage if necessary. The updated IDEAL also underlines the purpose, key question and ethical issues for each stage. In the first paper of IDEAL Framework and Recommendations series, we conducted a comprehensive introduction of IDEAL (e.g. the development, updates and application of IDEAL) to promote the dissemination and application of IDEAL in China.
With the continuous advancement of technology, the field of retinal surgery is poised to witness an increasing array of innovations and breakthroughs. The innovation in retinal surgery plays a pivotal role in enhancing the success rate of operations, reducing the risk of complications, and improving patient prognosis and quality of life. This encompasses innovations in vitrectomy systems, the novel application of vitrectomy in treating other ocular diseases, advancements in retinal surgical techniques, technological and conceptual innovations, as well as multidisciplinary collaboration, all of which contribute to the ongoing development in the treatment of retinal diseases. Therefore, innovations in retinal surgery should receive significant attention from ophthalmologists specializing in retinal diseases with the best service to patients.