B&L unveils its latest offerings to Europe

Bausch & Lomb has announced the launch of three new products onto the European market, two of which represent the firm's investment in microincision cataract surgery (MICS), whilst the third presents a further enhancement to its Zyoptix refractive surgery portfolio.

The Stellaris system accommodates both bimanual and coaxial MICS techniques, providing a choice in fluidic control with either the Advance Flow System or Advance Vacuum System, maintaining anterior chamber stability and helping to provide surge-free phaco surgery. Meanwhile, enhanced energy phaco delivery with optimized power modulations adds to the integral safety and efficiency of the system. CE marking is pending and expected during the second quarter of 2007.

The Akreos MI-60 lens completes Bausch & Lomb's Millennium MICS platform. The IOL can be implanted through a 1.8 mm incision using a wound-assisted injection technique where the injection cartridge is prevented from entering the anterior chamber. According to B&L, corneal stress is kept to a minimum using this linear technique, because the incision diameter equals the internal diameter of the cartridge. The lens is made from hydrophilic acrylic and is 30% thinner than the original Akreos AO design.

Finally, the Zyoptix XP Epi Separator, for use with the Zyoptix XP microkeratome handpiece, consists of a proprietary epi head for corneal applanation and a single-use epi separator, which work together to create epithelial flaps in around 12 seconds. It is designed to delivers a precise edge that lifts the epithelium smoothly, leaving a smooth Bowman's layer free of defects and stromal incisions. The device allows the microkeratome to support both LASIK and Epi-LASIK procedures.