Two does become one!

On the eve of the first day Technolas Perfect Vision has revealed what it conceives to be two new groundbreaking laser procedures in the fields of cataract surgery and the treatment of presbyopia.

The first of these innovations to be revealed was the femtosecond laser procedure, known as CUSTOMLENS, designed to perform anterior capsulotomy, lens fragmentation and corneal incision steps in the cataract surgery procedure as well as astigmatic cuts for related astigmatism correction. This procedure module will be available on the company’s Femtosecond Workstation, which will enable users to perform both cataract and refractive surgery with one single device. CEO of the company, Dr Kristian Hohla, commented on this development stating, “With the addition of the CUSTOMLENS module to our femtosecond laser, surgeons will be able to perform cataract, intrastomal, refractive and therapeutic procedures using the same femtosecond laser.” Additionally, it was stated that this device can perform the INTRACOR presbyopia treatment, CUSTOMFLAP Lasik flaps and CUSTOMSHAPE.

OTE’s editorial advisory board member, Prof. Gerd Auffarth from the University of Heidelberg, spoke about his first clinical experiences using the CUSTOMLENS commenting that this system is a “remarkable step forward in femtosecond laser technology.” Prof. Auffarth stated that he already uses the INTRACOR procedure with the system to create flaps and perforate keratoplasty and havinggiven the option to also perform the cataract steps is advantageous. This procedure will be commercially available in 2011.

Next on the agenda was the new corneal approach of treating presbyopia with an excimer laser, SUPRACOR. This new aberration-optimized presbyopic algorithm has been designed for application use on myopic, hyperopic and emmetropic eyes as well as post-LASIK. Dr Jorge Castanera from the Istituto de Oftalmolgia Castanera discussed his experiences of SUPRACOR. He had noted that the aberration control gave better results for both near and distance sighted problems and also that this procedure can be done on both eyes at the same time allowing patients to maintain their binocular vision. On performing a satisfaction survey after treatment, 100% of patients claimed that they did not require glasses to read the newspaper or to work on a computer. Additionally, even though there is currently more of an advantage in using this treatment for patients with near sight, Dr Castanera commented that there will be a possibility in the future to adapt this technique to the patient’s needs. SUPRACOR is expected to receive the CE mark in the first half of 2011.