Laser for cataract & corneal procedures gets 510(k) clearance

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance to the Victus femtosecond laser platform, designed to be used in both cataract and corneal procedures, according to a news release from Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision.

The platform is cleared for creation of a corneal flap for LASIK surgery or other treatment requiring initial lamellar resection of the cornea and anterior capsulotomy during cataract surgery, the release said.

“Cataract surgery, in its traditional form, delivers excellent results, and is arguably one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures performed anywhere in the body. The opportunity to further improve the outcomes of cataract surgery is something I am proud to be a part of,” Steven J. Dell, MD, of Dell Laser Consultants in Austin, Texas, said in the release.

The Victus platform may offer greater precision compared to manual cataract surgery techniques by allowing for more precise, controllable and centered capsulotomy, according to the release.

“The Victus platform represents a major advancement for ophthalmic surgeons that can potentially enhance patient outcomes,” Kristian Hohla, PhD, chief executive officer of Technolas, said in the release. “We look forward to the continued commercialization of the technology around the world, so that ophthalmic surgeons can experience its potential for themselves.”

The platform received CE mark approval in Europe in December and is now available for shipment in the United States. The companies plan to submit additional indications to the FDA.

At Laser Locators we carry the top name surgical and diagnostic ophthalmic equipment manufacturers you can trust, like Acon, Nidek, Lumenis and more for preforming all of your precise ophthalmic procedures. Contact us at www.laserlocators.com  or call 1-877-924-2020 and let one of our expert equipment locators help you today.

Getting the Most out of Three IOLs

“The aspheric design of this multifocal IOL enhances patients’ outcomes”, says Elizabeth A. Davis, MD. “There are a number of different IOLs to choose from to achieve the best outcome for patients today. Presbyopic correction lenses are now available and with good results. In many cases, surgeons prefer the Tecnis Multifocal IOL (Abbott Medical Optics Inc. [AMO]) based on their design and positive outcomes.”

In assessing any IOL, you must consider several factors: ease of implantation, predictability of refractive outcome, quality of vision, range of focus (spectacle independence), patients’ satisfaction, side effects, and long-term stability.

The Tecnis Multifocal IOL is based on an aspheric optic design meant to reduce the spherical aberration of an average cornea to zero. The Tecnis Multifocal has a full-diffractive posterior surface, which makes the diffractive optics pupil independent for optimal image quality at all distances under any lighting condition. The optic is made of acrylic and comes in both a one- and three-piece design. The frosted edge also minimizes edge glare.

Experience With The Lens

In a clinical trial, 94.6{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of subjects implanted bilaterally with the lens reported being satisfied with their vision. Also at 1 year, 92.1{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of the subjects had 20/25 or better distance UCVA and saw 20/32 or better at near with distance correction in place. More than 86{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of subjects reported never wearing glasses, and slightly less than 90{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} were able to function comfortably without glasses at all distances (96.9{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} at near, 89.7{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} at intermediate, and 95.5{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} at distance).Only 1{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} always wore glasses.

All multifocal IOLs inherently reduce contrast and induce some amount of glare and halos, it is important to inform all patients that they should anticipate such side effects.  Achieving optimal refractive outcomes with the Tecnis Multifocal IOL requires careful preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. Preoperative preparation requires optimization of the ocular surface, a thorough examination to exclude patients with conditions that would preclude good outcomes, and precise biometry and IOL calculations.

To achieve the best results with the lens, it is important to choose appropriate candidates. Certainly, patients should desire reduced dependence on glasses and contact lenses. They should understand not only the risks of cataract surgery in general but the potential side effects of the lens, including reduced contrast, glare, and halos. Either patients should have minimal corneal astigmatism, or the surgeon should have an appropriate method to manage astigmatism. Accurate preoperative keratometric and biometric measurements are critical, and ocular surface disease must be aggressively treated.

Presbyopia-correcting IOLs are one of the most important transforming factors in the practice of anterior segment ophthalmology, and the AcrySof IQ Restor (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) diffractive multifocal lens is the most commonly implanted presbyopia-correcting IOL in the United States. This technology offers patients visual rehabilitation for functional distance, reading, and intermediate vision. The surgeon’s selection of patients, meticulous attention to detail, and optimization of postoperative results are the keys to successful outcomes with this lens.

Recent advances in technology with laser cataract surgery may permit greater centration and consistent sizing of the capsulorhexis that could enhance refractive outcomes with presbyopia-correcting IOLs. Accurate biometry with the IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) or the Lenstar LS 900 (Haag-Streit AG) and control of astigmatism are also essential to maximizing outcomes. Because the lens constant must be carefully personalized to the individual surgeon, tracking postoperative results is imperative to refine surgical outcomes.

Patients are incredibly sensitive to small refractive errors with presbyopia-correcting IOLs, so surgeons must be willing and able to treat them. Astigmatism of greater than 0.50 D in a symptomatic patient requires surgical planning.

With attention to residual refractive error, the ocular surface,2 cystoid macular edema, and the posterior capsule, surgeons can improve appropriate patients’ quality of vision with the AcrySof IQ Restor IOL. The technology has enhanced the quality of life of many pseudophakic patients by reducing or eliminating their need for spectacles. As physicians’ comfort with multifocal lenses improves in the coming years, these IOLs should become more popular, both with cataract and refractive surgeons and their patients.

At Laser Locators we carry the top name surgical and diagnostic ophthalmic equipment manufacturers you can trust, like Acon, Nidek, Lumenis and more for preforming all of your precise ophthalmic procedures. Contact us at www.laserlocators.com  or call 1-877-924-2020 and let one of our expert equipment locators help you today.

The sun and cataracts

Just like when you have a smear on your sunglasses, having cataracts can feel like the same thing. Ageing is the main reason for the clouding of the eye lens, but excessive UV radiation is another major contributor. The World Health Organization estimates that cataracts account for almost 15 million blind people worldwide. About 20{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974}, or 3 million, of these are most likely caused by UV radiation.

The lens is not solid, instead it is a soft capsule filled with water and protein fiber. The protein fibers are normally crystal clear but can wear out with age. They can become opaque, and UV radiation can also alter the protein prematurely.

Cataract development can be variable amongst individuals regardless of gender or race. The process is generally slow and initially may affect only part of the lens. In some cases it develops from the lens’s rim and grows inside, and in another the lens begins to cloud from the center. In any case, the growing cataract will eventually severely impair vision and frequently lead to blindness.

In the early stages, a cataract is viewed as only a nuisance. But soon extra lighting, different eyeglasses and protection from glare is needed. UV radiation protection should help slow the process.

Once the cataract interferes too much with the daily life, surgery should be considered. Eye surgeons replace millions of cloudy lenses with substitutes every year, and this safe procedure returns better vision to as much as 90{0730eed075b45d9e50c00d6cd42dd08773e0164f29a45151808bf89051290974} of patients.

At Laser Locators we carry the top name surgical and diagnostic ophthalmic equipment manufacturers you can trust, like Acon, Nidek, Lumenis and more for preforming all of your precise ophthalmic procedures. Contact us at www.laserlocators.com  or call 1-877-924-2020 and let one of our expert equipment locators help you today.

 

Cataract Surgery- A growing business

Over time, glasses and contacts may no longer work as well to help you see clearly. Contacting an ophthalmologist should always be the first step after noticing any vision changes or impairments. A thorough eye exam can determine the problem and what vision correction surgeries are recommended. Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed, safest and most successful surgeries in the United States that is covered by insurance.

Many people don’t even recognize the early signs of cataracts, they just know they do not see as good anymore.  Some patients begin having early cataract symptoms as early as 40. However, cataracts may also develop in those much younger than 40. Most insurance plans pay for cataract surgery procedures using standard lenses, subject to deductibles and co-pays.

Intraocular lens or Smart Lens such as ReSTOR® or CrystaLens®, replace the old lens in an eye. Ultrasound energy is used to remove cataracts. An instrument called a phaco probe is used to remove the natural lens before being replaced with an artificial lens. These premium lenses can almost eliminate the need to wear glasses, both for reading and distance vision.

 

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure and takes just minutes to perform. The advanced technology has grown leaps and bounds and is being performed more and more each year. Most people notice an immediate improvement in their vision following surgery. People resume normal activities the day after surgery. In fact with the new technologies, your dependence on glasses can be greatly reduced or nearly eliminated.