Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - January 2010
The 2009 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology showcased the latest developments in cataract/refractive surgery, glaucoma, retina, and other ophthalmic subspecialties. The cataract/refractive surgery market has been under significant economic pressure recently due to a recessionary drop in elective ophthalmic procedures. However, evolving treatments for "back of the eye" conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, are making significant inroads toward improved patient outcomes for these common and devastating diseases and continue to energize the retina products market. Read more...
AAO Highlights: Back (of the Eye) to the Future
Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - January 2010
The 2009 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), held in San Francisco in October, showcased the latest developments in cataract/refractive surgery, glaucoma, retina, and other ophthalmic subspecialties. The cataract/refractive surgery market has been under significant economic pressure recently due to a recessionary drop in elective ophthalmic procedures. (See "ESCRS 2009: The Next Wave in Cataract and Presbyopia Devices," Medtech Insight, October 2009, and "Refractive Surgery Highlights from AAO," Market and Industry Briefs, this issue.) However, evolving treatments for "back of the eye" conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, are making significant inroads toward improved patient outcomes for these common and devastating diseases and continue to energize the retina products market.
New Laser Technology for Diabetic RetinopathyIn diabetic patients, retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels within the retina become weakened and damaged, leak blood and other fluids, and undergo new vessel growth and scarring that can distort vision. This condition is often treated with laser photocoagulation. Nearly 350,000 laser surgery procedures for diabetic retinopathy are expected to be performed in the US this year, and that number is projected to grow to about 420,000 by 2015.
In recent years, manufacturers have been working to improve retinal laser therapy using advanced imaging and surgical guidance/planning technologies. One recent advance in this area is the PASCAL Photocoagulator from OptiMedica Corp., which has brought improved speed and precision to laser treatment by allowing physicians to deliver a predetermined pattern of laser spots, up to 56 spots in one-half second, rather than just a single spot. The short pulse duration and precise pattern spacing reduce heat diffusion to the retina and prevent collateral tissue damage. The PASCAL method improves patient throughput for physicians and also enhances patient comfort by reducing pain, enabling shorter treatment sessions, and reducing the number of patient visits.
At AAO 2009, OptiMedica introduced the PASCAL Streamline Photocoagulator, which features enhanced treatment patterns and new reporting options. Since the company launched its first PASCAL system in 2006, it has placed 500 units that have been used to treat 500,000 patients. The company estimates the potential number of installation sites globally to be 35,000. OptiMedica announced in September that it has also been developing a femtosecond laser system designed to bring improved safety and precision to cataract surgery.
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