SPOTLIGHT ON TECHNOLOGY & TECHNIQUE

All about precision

Bausch + Lomb’s upgraded OCT imaging system and software helps surgeons’ speed and accuracy.

By Corrie Pelc, Contributing Author

The added precision, and a newly redesigned interface, were the reasons for Baseer U. Khan, MD, FRCSC, to use Bausch + Lomb’s Swept Source OCT imaging system and updated software for its VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Platform.

The Swept Source OCT imaging system’s high-resolution imaging can drive incision depth and shows the architecture of arcuate incisions.

The redesigned surgeon interface displays lens fragmentation treatment alignment.

“The precision that we are granted by this technology is a new frontier that we have not been able to realize thus far in ophthalmology,” says Dr. Khan, of the Clarity Eye Institute in Ontario, Canada.

PRECISION AND CLARITY

The Swept Source OCT imaging system and updated software provide surgeons with real-time monitoring of treatments throughout the entire procedure. Dr. Khan says the upgraded system’s refresh rate is 60 times faster than previously available.

In addition to providing images more quickly, the Victus’ improved system also provides clear, detailed, high-resolution images, allowing for more precision through all phases of treatment, including docking and planning. Dr. Khan says he is very pleased with the Swept Source OCT imaging system’s accuracy.

“Coupled with the new software, the things that we can do in the cornea are just unprecedented in terms of the level of precision that we can achieve in the cornea with things like wounds and limbal relaxing incision, as well as therapeutic corneal indications,” he explains.

SPEED AND AUTOMATION

Dr. Khan says the Swept Source OCT imaging system and upgraded software’s improvements have helped shorten procedure time. He says the software upgrade has reduced suction time by around 40%.

In addition, the high-resolution imaging allows for more accurate procedure planning. Before, Dr. Khan manually marked the iris and the entry, but no longer. “Now this is all done automatically, and all that is required is for the surgeon to verify.”

This is also true with setting the depth and calculating the thickness of the cornea or optical zone diameter. Dr. Khan says this is no longer a manual process. “All you have to do is set it to be at 85% depth or any desired depth, and it’s all done with precision.”

PRACTICE AND PATIENT BENEFITS

Dr. Khan says these automated features could potentially provide an economic bonus to practices as they eliminate the need for a tech to assist surgeons during procedures. “From a cost savings point of view, it’s valuable to surgeons,” he adds.

Dr. Khan says the previous VICTUS software provided a two-thirds success rate regarding limbal relaxing incisions and asymmetric management — he did not see much effect with about one third of patients. The VICTUS’ Swept Source OCT imaging system and software further improves patient outcomes, particularly with corneal work. OM