Alcon is releasing its new ocular biometer, Argos, with image guidance in Australia and New Zealand after a more than year-long delay due to demand from overseas markets.
According to the company, the Argos swept-source OCT biometer enables cataract surgeons to calculate the power for an intraocular lens (IOL) and measure the relevant dimensions of the eye while achieving a higher measurement acquisition rates even in mature cataract cases.1,2,10
Although modern optical biometry is known to be a highly accurate, non-invasive and largely automated,1,3,4-6, older biometers can have lower acquisition rates when measuring through +4 grade dense cataracts.5,6 A measurement acquisition failure can ultimately result in clinicians having to return to ultrasound A-scans which are more manual and technique dependent.
Alcon states its Argos SS-OCT largely negates this problem with measurements shown to be precise, reproducible and repeatable.2,7,9
One study comparing Argos to another leading biometer reported higher acquisition rates for Argos (97.6% vs 92.6%) (p<0.0001) in a general population of 622 eyes. However, when concentrating on the 99 eyes with +4 grade dense cataracts ARGOS was shown to have better penetration, with 41% higher acquisition rates.1
According to Alcon, it was also shown that in dense cataracts, predictive accuracy with Argos is higher compared to another biometer platform, with lower mean absolute error and a greater percentage falling within 0.50 D of target.10
Argos integrates with Alcon’s vision suite with connectivity to LenSx, ORA and Verion for image guidance overlays in the operating theatre with steps commanded by the Centurion phaco machine.
In addition, remote Alcon Vision Planning software has been developed for clinics to integrate into their existing computers, allowing for measurement review, IOL planning and result optimisation away from biometer itself, thereby bypassing common workflow bottlenecks for clinicians and allowing surgeons to perform most tasks from their desk.
Argos is designed to leverage Alcon’s training and support network with material becoming available on the Alcon Experience Academy website and users having access to the expertise of Alcon’s Clinical and Technical Services team.
“This exciting device acts as an important first step for Alcon in the diagnostics space with a pipeline of future innovation for this portfolio and further releases with the Alcon Vision Suite,” the company stated.
More information can be found here.
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References
- Tamaoki A., et al. Ophthalmic Res 2019;19: 11–23.
- Shammas HJ., et al. J Cataract Refract Surg 2016;42(1):50–61.
- Nazm N, Chakrabarti A. TNOA J Ophthal Sci Res 2017;55:196–210. 4. Turczynowska M et al., Eur Ophthal Rev 2016;10(2):94–100.
- Mylonas G et al., Acta Ophthalmol 2011 89(3):e237–41.
- Freeman G., Pesudovs K., Acta Ophthalmol Scand 2005;83(4):439–42. 7. Huang J et al., J Refract Surg 2019;35(2):115–120.
- Whang WJ et al., Scientific Reports 2018;8:13732.
- Omoto MK et al., Scientific Reports 2019;9:6557.
- An Y et al., J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2019;60(11):1043–1049
