ESCRS
I'm still hearing buzz around the recent ESRS meeting. I was planning to go personally but had to make a last second change in my travel plans and missed the meeting. With Eyetube TV's Daily Coverage, I was able to catch up an some of the stuff I missed out on. Click play to to hear a bout the new Centurion Vision System (Alcon Laboratories, Inc), Ziemer's Femto LDV Z8, Carl Zeiss' Mel 90 excimer, and other cutting edge technologies that debuted in Amsterdam.
Smile, You're on Eyetube
When I first heard about the ReLEx smile (small incision lenticle extraction) procedure (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) for myopia, I had my doubts that it would have a place in the refractive surgery market. However, after learning about some of the corneal biomechanical and dry eye advantages, my feelings on the concept are beginning to change. The results appear very compelling, and I believe this technology is worth watching. Hopefully we will see a quick regulatory approval process for this in the United States. Judge for yourself.
IOL EXCHANGE
I am always amazed at the various approaches available for removing and exchanging IOLS. No two eyes are ever the same, thus I think it is important to understand a few options when presented with the need to exchange an IOL. Check out Rahul Pandit's great case of exchanging a toric IOL with a monofocal one. He does a nice job with a "Pac Man" cut into the optic to allow for easy removal. I also like how he performs an LRI at the beginning of the case along the same axis where the toric lens was sitting. This allows him to replace the problematic toric IOL with a monofocal implant and still maintain the astigmatic correction.
Another IOL exchange with a different approach is demonstrated by Uday Devgan in this video. Notice that he does not cut out the IOL until after the alternative lens is safely in place. This allows for protection of the capsular bag when cutting out the previous lens.
One more technique involves folding the lens inside the eye without using sharp instruments and/or enlarging the incision. This gives a great alternative to the previously mentioned techniques. If you have your own unique exchange video. please submit to Eyetube so we can all learn from your approach!
