Ophthalmology Management: Can you discuss your roles as CMO and head of global medical safety?

Terry Kim: Since joining Alcon as CMO early last year, I have taken over the impressive efforts of Dr. Stephen Lane to help meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and eyecare patients worldwide. As part of the R&D leadership team, my major roles include overseeing Alcon’s medical safety operations, participating in numerous Alcon Seed Fund and Business Development deals, and engaging our trusted group of key opinion leaders. I’ve also had the opportunity tosupport the development of some exciting clinical evidence across our broader portfolio.

OM: Why/how did you move in this direction with your career?

TK: Before joining Alcon, I was professor of ophthalmology at Duke University Eye Center, where I served as chief of the cornea and external disease division, director of the refractive surgery service and director of the Duke Sports Vision Center. In those roles, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Alcon, other eyecare companies and many other talented surgeons. I was drawn to Alcon’s approach of partnering with healthcare professionals throughout the R&D and innovation process. I wanted to move into an industry role where I could have a stronger influence on the types of products that are coming to market.

OM: What is the value of having an ophthalmologist in this role?

TK: There are many areas of significant unmet need in eye care that ophthalmologists see in their practices every day, from cataracts and dry eye disease to glaucoma, myopia, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. As someone who is still practicing, I hope to bring a fresh perspective to Alcon that many of my peers share. It is important to partner with optometrists and the larger eyecare community to ensure their unique perspectives are also incorporated into our work.

OM: In 2024, the Unity Vitreoretinal Cataract System and Unity Cataract System received FDA 510(k) clearance. What impact will these systems will have? 

TK: Part of the strategy to address the growing demand for cataract surgery is giving ophthalmologists the tools they need to perform procedures as efficiently, effectively and safely as possible.^1,2 With Unity VCS and Unity CS, we will introduce innovations for vitreoretinal and cataract surgery that drive advancements in cutting speeds, fluidics management, ergonomics and workflow.^3-11,§ We have been receiving positive feedback from surgeons who are currently in user product evaluations, and we’re excited to share more later this year.

OM: Alcon’s glaucoma portfolio was expanded with Voyager DSLT laser therapy. How will it improve or streamline the way ophthalmologists practice?

TK: While global glaucoma treatment guidelines and practice are shifting toward more first-line use of SLT, practical challenges have limited uptake of the traditional procedure. We hope to lower the barrier to first-line glaucoma laser therapy with products like Voyager DSLT, which delivers laser energy to the trabecular meshwork—but without the need for a gonio lens or manual aiming. Patients remain seated or standing during the seconds-long laser delivery, which provides an exceptional experience not only for them, but also for their physician.^12,13

OM: Alcon recently debuted new handheld gas delivery systems. How will they improve the way ophthalmologists practice? 

TK: We heard from our retina surgeons that conventional gas tamponade delivery methods were inconsistent and inefficient, often requiring more than one person and more than a dozen steps from storage to setup, leaving room for human error and incorrect gas mixes.^14-16 UNIFEYE (mixed gas) produces surgeon-selectable gas-to-air mixtures that ensure certain, precise concentrations and efficient OR-based delivery.^14,17-21 UNIPEXY (pure gas) provides portable, convenient pneumatic retinopexy procedures in the clinic via a single-use, handheld device.^14,17-19,22 These new systems will have a big impact in terms of streamlining setup, improving accuracy of the mix ratio, and offering surgeons and staff more control over gas delivery.^14-22 OM

§ Compared to Alcon Constellation and Centurion Systems

REFERENCES:

1. Javitt JC, Wang F, West SK. Blindness due to cataract: epidemiology and prevention. Annu Rev Public Health. 1996;17:159-177. doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.17.050196.001111

2. Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Census report – facing workforce shortages and backlogs in the aftermath of COVID-19: the 2022 census of the ophthalmology consultant, trainee and SAS workforce. March 2023. Accessed April 10, 2024. https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Ophthalmology-census-Facing-workforce-shortages-and-backlogs-in-the-aftermath-of-COVID-19.pdf

3. Unity VCS and CS User Manual.  

4. Unity Phaco Handpiece Directions for Use.  

5. Alcon Data on File, 2024.  

6. Alcon Data on File, 2024.  

7. Alcon Data on File, 2024.  

8. Alcon Data on File, 2024.  

9. Vasavada V, Raj SM, Praveen MR, Vasavada AR, Henderson BA, Asnani PK. Real-time dynamic intraocular pressure fluctuations during microcoaxial phacoemulsification using different aspiration flow rates and their impact on early postoperative outcomes: a randomized clinical trial. J Refract Surg. 2014;30(8):534-540. doi:10.3928/1081597X-20140711-06

10. Vasavada AR, Praveen MR, Vasavada VA, et al. Impact of high and low aspiration parameters on postoperative outcomes of phacoemulsification: randomized clinical trial. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2010;36(4):588-593. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2009.11.009

11. Alcon Data on File, 2024.

12. Belkin Vision Eagle Device User Guide, US. Rev. 04; 2024.   

13. Alcon Data on File, 2024. 

14. UNIFEYE Gas Delivery System Directions for Use.  

15. ISPAN Directions for Use. 

16. Hahn P, ed. ASRS 2023 Preferences and Trends Membership Survey. Chicago. American Society of Retina Specialists 

17. Alcon Data on File, 2018. 

18. Alcon Data on File, 2018.

19. Alcon Data on File, 2021.

20. Sigler EJ, Randolph JC, Charles S, Calzada JI. Intravitreal fluorinated gas preference and occurrence of rare ischemic postoperative complications after pars plana vitrectomy: a survey of the american society of retina specialists. J Ophthalmol. 2012;2012:230596. doi:10.1155/2012/230596

21. Kanclerz P, Grzybowski A. Case series of inappropriate concentration of intraocular sulfur hexafluoride. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2018;9(2):405-410. Published August 31, 2018. doi:10.1159/000492746

22. UNIPEXY Directions for Use.