Zeiss showcases innovations

Dr Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec A trio of new technologies aimed at consolidating its portfolio of integrated ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical solutions was unveiled by Zeiss at a media briefing at the XXXV Congress of the ESCRS in Lisbon, Portugal. The innovations include a new depth-of-focus intraocular lens (IOL), an advanced surgical microscope and a fundus imaging system with an ultra-widefield view. The AT LARA IOL is an extended depth of focus diffractive IOL designed to provide patients with the widest range of focus in its category, but without the bothersome visual side-effects associated with multifocal IOLs. In pre-clinical trials, the lens was shown to enhance the range of vision by creating an elongated focus range compared to first-generation lenses of this type, thereby increasing spectacle independence for a broader group of patients. The lens provides an additional option for cataract patients for whom multifocal IOLs might not be the optimal choice due to sensitivity to visual side-effects such as halos and glare. The IOL incorporates an aberration-neutral aspheric design with chromatic correction, resulting in enhanced contrast sensitivity for the patient. It also utilises a 360-degree sharp-edge in order to minimise posterior lens capsule opacification, and comes pre-loaded for efficient and convenient surgical workflow. The new Zeiss microscope, the OPMI LUMERA 700, addresses the growing market demand for premium IOLs, incorporating intraoperative OCT imaging for the treatment of more complex cases. It can also be used for applications in cornea, glaucoma, and retina. COCKPIT The microscope includes a comprehensive “cockpit” that provides surgeons with relevant information during surgery – in the eyepiece, on the screen and in the video function. Phacoemulsification parameters and IOL data shown in the cockpit, for example, help eliminate the need for cataract surgeons to look up from their surgical view. Rounding off the product launch, the CLARUS 500 HD ultra-widefield fundus imaging system delivers high-resolution true-colour clarity across the entire retina, from the macula to the periphery. The fact that the images resemble the colouration of the retina as seen through direct observation during clinical examination is an important asset in the diagnosis, documentation and management of ocular diseases. “The new innovations being introduced by Zeiss at ESCRS 2017 underscore Zeiss’s commitment to helping doctors achieve the best outcomes for each patient,” said Dr Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec. “At Zeiss, we are constantly striving to help doctors further improve their clinical performance and practice efficiency by perfecting solutions in new technology categories – such as ZEISS AT LARA  in the new EDoF IOL category – and by continuing to integrate technologies – such as with the new all-in-one LUMERA  surgical microscope.”