Combined refractive platform offers new level of patient customization

The WaveLight Refractive Suite from Alcon is now available to European doctors. The news came during the 2010 European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) annual meeting in Paris, France.

The suite features the new 200 kHz WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser and the new 500 Hz WaveLight EX500 excimer laser; combined, the two systems form the world's fastest refractive platform.

"The new WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser allows me to tailor treatments for patient's individual needs through fully customizable corneal cuts, spot size, depth and energy delivery," said Dr Arthur Cummings, Wellington Eye Clinic & UPMC Beacon Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.

The integrated WaveLight Refractive Suite is also equipped with advanced safety features including a 1050 Hz eye tracker on the WaveLight EX500 excimer laser, providing a 2 millisecond latency time and a Beam Control Check that automatically calibrates each applanation cone used with the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser. An additional benefit for improved patient flow is WaveNet, an integrated computer network which provides patient data transfer within the Refractive Suite.

"Our new WaveLight Refractive Suite is designed for these two innovative laser technologies to communicate to deliver precise and predictable outcomes, reduce risk for potential errors, improve patient experience and save surgeons valuable time," said Stuart Raetzman, vice president, Global Marketing and area president for the United States. "The added benefits and features offered through the WaveLight FS200 and EX500 lasers are numerous and further demonstrate our commitment to bringing surgeons the most advanced technologies to meet a wide range of patient needs accurately and efficiently."

The CE Mark for the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond and the WaveLight EX500 excimer lasers were complete in the second quarter of 2010. Alcon anticipates the launch for WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser in the United States later this year and the WaveLight EX500 excimer laser next year.