As ZEISS passes a major milestone for SMILE lenticule extraction procedures globally, the company revealed it now has the first such treatment for hyperopia available in European markets at ESCRS 2024.
The company’s medical technology division has been showcasing its latest cataract and corneal refractive workflow innovations at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) conference from 6-10 September, including a new AI IOL Calculator and an AI decision support tool available on its OCT machine.
In a press release ZEISS said it was celebrating the 10 million mark for lenticule extraction procedures performed with ZEISS SMILE and ZEISS SMILE pro, which was “proof of the growing international adoption of safe and effective lenticule extraction solutions”.
In 2011, ZEISS was the first medical device manufacturer to make lenticule extraction for laser vision correction commercially available. And since launching in the Australian and New Zealand market 10 years ago, local ophthalmologists have played a leading role in the adoption of SMILE, also referred to as small incision lenticule extraction.
“[Now] after more than 13 years of offering laser vision correction solutions, including treatment options for myopia and presbyopia, ZEISS is once again reshaping the market with the introduction of lenticule extraction for hyperopic patients, with or without astigmatism, using the VISUMAX 800,” the company said.
“ZEISS is the first medical device manufacturer to introduce treatment of hyperopia using lenticule extraction in the CE market.”
At ESCRS, ZEISS is also showcasing its complete ZEISS Corneal Refractive Workflow.
It’s now enhanced by including computer-assisted cyclotorsion adjustment for the ZEISS VISUMAX 800, remote planning with the ZEISS Refractive Workplace, and the VISULYZE clinical nomogram and data analysis tool.
“ZEISS SMILE has become a benchmark for refractive surgery because of its quality and the results. In maybe 20 to 30 seconds, you change peoples’ lives,” said Dr Andrea Russo from Centro Oculistico Bresciano in Brescia, Italy.
During ESCRS, three new research abstracts will be presented highlighting the findings of a recent post-market clinical follow-up study conducted by ZEISS. It examined 237 patients treated with ZEISS SMILE pro using the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser.
ZEISS harnessing power of AI
Meanwhile, German-based ophthalmic product manufacturer is also presenting improvements to its cataract workflow in Europe.
The ZEISS AI IOL Calculator recently received its CE mark and will be available on the digital surgery planner ZEISS EQ Workplace. It is also compatible with the ZEISS IOLMaster 700 Total Keratometry.
“The ZEISS AI IOL Calculator is a data driven IOL power calculation algorithm and is a core feature of the ZEISS Cataract Workflow,” the company said.
“It is optimised with a large amount of data for each IOL model it supports and therefore does not require IOL constants. When applied to short eyes, it has shown great performance and outperformed some state-of-the-art formulas.”
According to Dr Douglas Koch, from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, what’s unique about ZEISS AI IOL Calculator is that it is IOL specific but does not require IOL constants.
“We rely on the ZEISS AI IOL Calculator for the entire spectrum of axial lengths, and it especially shines in short eyes,” he said.
With its OCT hardware, ZEISS is using ESCRS to demonstrate ZEISS CIRRUS PathFinder, a fully integrated AI decision support tool that uses proprietary deep learning algorithms, trained by retina specialists, to automatically identify abnormal macular OCT B-scans assisting with pre-surgical assessment of the retina.
ZEISS CIRRUS PathFinder will be available in select markets subject to local regulatory clearances and is currently pending CE mark.
In addition, ZEISS will demonstrate how post-surgery review, analysis and sharing of surgery videos is now made possible with a new spatial computing app for reviewing 3D videos, based on the ZEISS Surgery Optimizer.
“This exclusive experience on Apple Vision Pro represents an entirely new way for ophthalmologists to review 3D videos pre-recorded with ZEISS digital surgical microscopes,” ZEISS added.
“Using an Apple Vision Pro, surgeons can review 2D or 3D surgery videos, scans of the eye, patient information and much more simultaneously; a comprehensive spatial computing experience easily controlled by the user‘s eyes, hands, and voice.”
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