Cutting-edge technology debuts in European venues

Take-Home

Many new ophthalmic products and updated devices were presented during this year’s ESCRS meeting and EURETINA 2013.

By Rose Schneider, Content Specialist, Ophthalmology Times

Amsterdam and Hamburg, Germany-An abundance of new and innovative technology upgrades and devices were introduced last month during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) meeting in Amsterdam, as well as EURETINA 2013 in Hamburg, Germany.

Multifocal IOL technology

Abbott Medical Optics announced it will launch two new measurements (optical add powers) for the Tecnis multifocal IOL in Europe to provide more customized treatment options for cataract patients.

The first multifocal IOL, +2.75 add power, is suited for patients who prefer intermediate vision activities, such as seeing an automobile dashboard.

The second multifocal IOL, +3.25 add power, is for patients favoring activities at longer reading distances, such as working at a computer, while still providing a full range of vision.

“The launch of these new multifocal lenses in Europe further enhance our robust portfolio of premium IOL offerings for cataract patients who desire visual acuity at a variety of distances,” said Murthy Simhambhatla, senior vice president, medical optics, Abbott.

Technology for treatment of floaters

Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. launched its Ultra Q Reflex technology, a YAG laser specifically for the treatment of vitreous strands and opacities.

The device is designed to overcome the issues associated with conventional YAG laser technology, and is designed for the treatment of floaters.

Incorporating Ellex’s proprietary slit lamp illumination tower design, the device converges the operator’s vision, the target illumination, and the treatment beam into the same optical plane. The device’s illumination mirror-which briefly moves out of the laser pathway during firing-ensures that the laser beam is never obstructed, thus the system’s illumination tower can be used coaxially, in addition to the typical off-axis position.

The device also ensures visibility of all ocular structures, and there is no risk of under-dosing or over-dosing the energy due to poor positioning of the illumination tower.

In addition, the precision of the two-point aiming system and the wide offset range ensure accurate positioning of the optical breakdown, thus preserving surrounding tissue from accidental damage.

Vision testing software platform

Konan Medical USA Inc. unveiled the Chart2020 v5, an advanced vision testing software platform with a completely redesigned user experience that can be controlled with the Chart2020 Duo app for iPad with retina display.

Central to the software’s user experience are SmartDocks, which enables users to quickly and easily access test libraries, sequences, system sequences, system settings, and Konan Wizards-a suite of guided, self-scoring tests.

Additionally, the software features global Sloan compliant optotypes for non-Western languages including Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Arabic, as well as Konan Kids, an optotype designed for children and illiterate adults.

Retina laser therapy

OD-OS presented study results that showed its combination of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and navigated laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema proved superior to anti-VEGF therapy alone.

The prospective cohort study-conducted by Marcus Kernt, MD, of Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich-utilized the Navilas Navigated Laser System (OD-OS GmbH) in combination with ranibizumab anti-VEGF therapy versus standard ranibizumab monotherapy.

“(The laser) therapy demonstrated significant and stable visual gains in most patients,” Dr. Kernt said. “These results were at least as good as with ranibizumab monotherapy at a significantly lower number of injections when compared to those who received (that) therapy alone. Importantly, the results after navigated laser therapy are also superior to results of previously reported studies which were based on conventional laser/anti-VEGF combinations with regard to reducing the injection burden.”

Preloaded IOL product

Rayner Intraocular Lens Ltd. unveiled the C-flex Advance Aspheric, a preloaded IOL product.

The lens combines clinically proven benefits of the aberration-neutral C-flex aspheric IOL, with a mini incision and a preloaded IOL delivery system that eliminates handling of the acrylic lens in theater.

The lens also helps reduce the changes of IOL damage or contamination, and allows for an SIA neutral implantation through an incision size of 22 or 2.4 mm into the bag.

The new lens is available in the power range +8 to +34 D in 0.5-D increments.

Excimer laser portfolio

Schwind eye-tech-solutions expands its excimer laser portfolio with the Schwind Amaris 1050RS.

The new laser system operates at a rate of 1,050 Hz, giving a short ablation time of 1.3 seconds per D (myopia, without astigmatism, 12.5-mm vertex distance and 6-mm optical zone), which increases safety and patient comfort.

The corneal stroma is also exposed for shorter time, which minimizes the risk of drying out, while the length of time for which the patient has to fixate on the green light is further reduced.

Another feature of the laser is active 7D eye tracking in space and time.

Schwind also presented the PresbyMax Hybrid-an alternative to the existing PresbyMax types- for the treatment of presbyopia.

The hybrid technique delivers a faster recovery of distance visual acuity, as well as high quality of distance vision.

Femtosecond laser platform

Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems announced an addition to its femtosecond laser line Femtro LDV Z Models-the Z8.

The new laser platform will be able to perform a large variety of cornea, presbyopia, and cataract procedures.

First clinical results were shown during ESCRS, and the laser platform is pending CE mark and FDA approval.

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