The IQ Geometry slit knife, the latest tool in the Sharpoint product line from Surgical Specialties, is designed to create less friction during ophthalmic procedures.

The tangential design of the IQ Geometry merges two micro-thin radii to create an edge that engages tissue with only two contact points. The company says that fewer contact points reduce the amount of friction and therefore less penetration force is needed. This results in a more precise cellular dissection and superior wound architecture.

The IG Geometry, at 0.1 mm, is more than 40 percent thinner than the standard slit knife already available from the company. For more information, call 1 (800) 523-3332, or visit surgicalspecialties.com.

 

Dual-Wavelength Laser for Retina Surgeries

Ellex Medical Laser Ltd. (Australia) has introduced the Integre Duo, the first solid-state red and green photocoagulator, which offers a new laser option during retinal surgeries, the company says. The Integre Duo utilizes a dual-wavelength laser cavity that enables ophthalmologists to better treat retinal conditions, the company says. It provides simultaneous true red and green wavelength selection in a compact solid-state design.

The laser received its 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April. Ellex expects the first customer units to arrive this month. For more information, visit ellex.com.

Alcon OTC Drops Help Dry Eye

Alcon has launched Systane Free Lubricant Eye Drops for over-the-counter distribution to treat dry eye. It combines the effectiveness of a gel treatment with the ease of application and comfort of a drop. It also provides a significant decrease in blurring when compared to liquid gel products, as noticed during clinical trials, the company reports. For more information, visit systane.com.

Expanded Parameters for Acuvue Lenses

Acuvue Oasys contact lenses are now available in 24 expanded parameters. The new parameters include Acuvue Oasys High Minus -6.50 to -12 D (in 0.5-D steps) and Acuvue Oasys High Plus +4.25 to +6 D (in 0.25-D steps) and +6.50 to +8 D (in 0.5-D steps).

Acuvue Oasys is indicated for daily wear and may be worn for up to six consecutive nights/seven days of overnight wear as recommended by an eye-care professional. It is the first contact lens made from senofilcon A, a new silicone hydrogel material that the manufacturer says is 50-percent smoother than available silicone hydrogel lenses. Acuvue Oasys also blocks more than 96 percent of UVA rays and 99 percent of UVB rays. Call 1 (800) 843-2020 or visit ecp.acuvue.com.

Cataract Surgery Precision Tools

Two new surgical items from Duckworth & Kent are designed to bring more precision and ease during cataract procedures.

The Salvitti Akahoshi Prechopper (Product 2-2-817 or 2-2-817-1), released in January, is designed to crack the nucleus into four segments with minimal stretching of the incision, the company says. The forceps shafts open to a maximum of 1.7 mm at the incision point and the tips open to 2.5 mm. By flipping the forceps over, the blunt edge may be used to go deeper during the initial split to fully split the nucleus. Using the blunt edge of the tip reduces the risk of damaging the posterior capsule, the company says.

The Injector (Product DK7797), available since March, features a plunger mechanism instead of a screen mechanism for fast, efficient, single-handed delivery, the company says. The cartridge is loaded into the injector and secured in place by ro-tating the sleeve. The complete delivery process is carried out with single-hand movement. It is suitable for Alcon Monarch II sterile single-use B and C cartridges for implantation of Alcon Acrysof Acrylic foldable IOLs.

For more information call 1 (800) 756-7773 or visit duckworth-and-kent.com.

Needle Guide Controls Placement

Rhein Medical's Gillum Retrobulbar Guide (Product #8-13225) assists in the controlled placement of either retrobulbar or peribulbar needles for squirming patients who require a block, the company says.

Developed in coordination with William N. Gillum, MD, the device is placed into position with one hand and the needle is inserted through its tube for the secure placement of the needle. The company says the device is reusable and autoclaveable. For more information, call Rhein Medical at 1 (800) 637-4346.

Toric Lenses Offer Steep Base Curve

CooperVision has extended the parameters of its Proclear Toric contact lenses with the introduction of an 8.4 base curve. The company now offers two base curves, 8.8 and 8.4, as part of CooperVision's PC Hydrogel line of lenses.

The Proclear Toric product line is designed for soft lens wearers with astigmatism. Proclear Toric lenses are made with omafilcon A material, the only lens material with an FDA-cleared indication relating to the improvement of comfort for those who experience dryness or mild discomfort during lens wear. For more information visit coopervision.com.

Lid Foam May Help Dry Eye

The first antibacterial lid foam designed for lid hygiene may help in treating blepharitis and dry eye by keeping bacteria counts low on punctal plugs, says its maker. The SteriLid Eyelid Cleanser, from Advanced Vision Research Inc., will be available this summer. Using SteriLid in the days leading up to eye surgery can also help patients reduce the risk of developing endophthalmitis, AVR says. Call (781) 932-8327 or visit theratears.com.

Software Allows Custom Treatments

Eye surgeons can customize ablation treatments for patients using the new version of Schwind's ORK-CAM (Custom Ablation Manager) software.

The comparison function for corneal and/or ocular wavefront data allows for a more precise diagnosis and gives the surgeon the ability to analyze whether corneal aberrations are partly compensated by internal ones.

The software also allows different measurements to be compared with each other in order to analyze ablation efficiency or postoperative regression. Each single Zernike mode in the new version of the ORK-CAM can be manually activated or deactivated. In order to save tissue, the ablation depth and ablation volume can be automatically optimized with the help of the minimize function, the company says. For more information, visit eye-tech-solutions.com.

Companies Promote Eye Software

Synemed's EyeScape Advanced Imaging Software has added Nteon's EyeCOR Code Finder to its product, advancing imaging options and high-resolution retinal photography. Adding EyeCOR Code Finder Software to EyeScape will allow the ophthalmologist to quickly select the procedure code and see all the diagnosis codes that support the procedure, Synemed says. EyeCOR shows the user when procedures are mutually exclusive, as well as other coding restrictions, avoiding both performing and billing procedures that will not be reimbursed.

EyeCOR learns the doctor's terminology for the particular procedure, allowing a few simple mouse clicks to complete a detailed report in seconds. Call 1 (800) 777-0650 or visit synemed.com.

CIBA's New Specialty Lens Website

Ciba Vision has a new website designed to feature its specialty lens line, including Cibasoft Progressive Toric and SuraSoft 3 prosthetic lenses. The website is geared for eye-care professionals to assist with lens fitting for patients who require specialty lenses. The website is specialty-lenses.com.

Eyegenie: External Eyelid Retractor

The Eyegenie is an external eyelid retractor from Wilson Ophthalmic Corp. (Mustang, Okla.). The Eyegenie can be used during several procedures, including a slit lamp exam, tonometry or a contact lens evaluation, the company says. Patients may also use it when applying eye drops or ointment, or inserting and removing contact lenses. The Eyegenie features a soft-grip tip that enables controlled eyelid positioning and is safe and hygienic, with its disposable tips. Call 1 (800) 222-2020 or visit wilsonophthalmic.com.

Product * Research * News Refresh Liquigel Relieves Dry Eye Carboxymethylcellulose 1% (CMC, Refresh Liquigel, Allergan) provides superior relief of dry-eye symptoms, says a recent Allergan-funded study comparing the tear formulation to propylene glycol/polyethylene glycol 400 (PG-HPG, Systane, Alcon). The one-week study during the initial phase of treatment conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center involved 60 patients with dry-eye symptoms and ocular surface staining. The patients preferred CMC to PH-HPG by a three to two ratio and found CMC more soothing to their eyes. Patients using CMC had statistically significant reductions in corneal staining over patients treated with PG-HPG. Both drops are new, mid-viscosity dry eye drop formulations. The study was published in the May issue of Eye and Contact Lens. Zymar Effective for Ocular Infections Gatifloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution (Zymar, Allergan) with 0.005% benzalkonium chloride shows greater efficacy against Gram-positive species than moxifloxacin 0.5% (Vigamox, Alcon), a group of researchers from Oklahoma report, supported by Allergan. The researchers tested the efficacy of the fourth-generation fluoroquinolones against the Gram-positive species most commonly involved in ocular infections: Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus (methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and S. viridans. The superior potency demonstrated by both Zymar and gatifloxacin powder plus 0.005% BAK suggests they work synergistically to lower minimal inhibitory concentrations. Concept Tear Offers Less Blurring The Concept Tear (Alcon) does not show a significant difference in drop comfort during a comparison clinical study versus Carboxymethylcellulose 1% (Purite, Allergan). However, according to the four researchers from Alcon Laboratories who performed two clinical studies with the gel, the Concept Tear was significantly more acceptable (p=0.0008) to patients, with less blurring (p<0.0001) upon evaluation than the Purite tear. The Concept Tear also demonstrated significant reductions in corneal staining during the six-week study. The Concept Tear is a multi-dose formulation with buffer ingredients but without the traditional preservatives. The drops, like the original Systane Lubricant Eye Drops, contain PEG-400 and propylene glycol as active demulcents with HP-Guar as a gelling agent. Twice-Daily Xibrom Effective, Convenient Twice-daily NSAID Xibrom (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.09% is just as effective as NSAIDS that are administered four times a day for the treatment of acute pseudophakic cystoid macular edema, according to ISTA Pharmaceuticals. In this study, patients treated with Xibrom showed statistically significant improvements in both visual acuity and EDTRS letters gained, findings that were equivalent when compared with Voltaren Ophthalmic 0.1% and Acular 0.5% after three months of treatment. The 52 patients in the study followed one of three regimens: Xibrom, one drop twice daily; Voltaren, one drop four times daily; or Acular, one drop four times daily. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently approves Xibrom for the treatment of ocular inflammation and reduction of pain post-cataract surgery.