TPV announces issuance of Two Foundation Patents for the Intrastromal Refractive Treatment of Presbyopia

Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH recently announced the issuance of United States Patents 7,717,907 and 7,717,908. These patents describe, among other, the technique for treating presbyopia by using a minimally-invasive intrastromal laser procedure to reshape the cornea of the eye, which is the basis for the INTRACOR procedure. Developed in conjunction with renowned refractive surgeon Dr Luis Antonio Ruiz, from Colombia, this intellectual property represents a key step in building upon Technolas Perfect Vision’s strategy to bring presbyopia solutions to the global market. Dr Kristian Hohla, CEO of Technolas Perfect Vision, said, “There’s a real, growing need to cater to patient demand for effective presbyopic solutions which provide improved quality of life and convenience. In the US alone, there are currently over 100 million presbyopes, representing a huge market opportunity.

TPV Survey reveals importance of future role of presbyopia correction in clinical practice

In a recently conducted TPV survey among EMEA surgeons, more than 93% believe that presbyopia correction will play an important or even very important role in the future of their practice. Eighty nine percent of respondents also consider TPV will play an important or very important role in the area of presbyopia correction.

The survey also revealed that more than 56% are intending to adopt INTRACOR (or a similar procedure) within the next 12 months, or are already using it.

ESCRS 2010, Paris

Join us for a champagne toast and learn about our new TPV innovations

TPV has some very exciting announcements to make at this year’s ESCRS in Paris and would like to take the opportunity to invite you to a presentation taking place on our booth. The company’s CEO, Dr Kristian Hohla, will unveil new TPV innovations. Further information on the innovations will be presented at our lunchtime symposium on Monday 6th of September. The announcement will take place on:

Friday, 3rd of September 2010 at 4:00pm
ESCRS Exhibit Floor (Palais des Congrès de Paris), Level 1, Booth 141

Lunchtime Symposium
Technolas Perfect Vision - True Solutions for Presbyopia with laser technology

Date Monday, 6th of September 2010 Time From 1:00 to 2:00pm (Complimentary lunch will be provided) Venue Salle Maillot, Palais des Congrès, Paris Symposium registration at www.escrs.org/satellites SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME Technolas Perfect Vision - True Solutions for Presbyopia with laser technology Moderators: Prof Michael Knorz (Germany) & Dr Stephen Slade (USA) TECHNOLAS 520F - Much more than a femto laser INTRACOR®, 18 month clinical results Prof Mike Holzer (Germany) Personal experience using CUSTOMFLAP® Dr Federico Alonso (Spain) Managing keratoplasty procedures with the 520F Dr Louis Hoffart (France) TECHNOLAS 217P - Capturing the presbyopia market New excimer laser algorithm for Presbyopia Dr Jorge Castanera (Spain) PLUS Breaking News from TPV!

Expert Sessions on the TPV booth
During the congress, you’ll have the opportunity to hear expert opinion and insights from surgeons using our latest technologies. These sessions will be taking place during the congress on our booth at 10am and 4pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

APAO, Beijing

During the APAO meeting, from the 16th to the 20th of September, visit TPV on booth number A15 and test drive the TECHNOLAS 520F. TPV has a number of events during the APAO meeting:

New TECHNOLAS Excimer Workstation 217P laser upgrade kit

TECHNOLAS 217z100 lasers can now be upgraded so you can benefit from the enhanced performance provided by the TECHNOLAS 217P laser; the faster, easier and most cost effective excimer platform. The upgrade kit includes:

The upgrade is performed in the clinic, taking between 2 and 4 days, depending upon the extent of the upgrade required.

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
INTRACOR Results from Clinique de la Vision, Paris

Dr Cati Albou-Ganem

Dr Cati Albou-Ganem presented Clinique de la Vision’s INTRACOR results during the recent World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC), held in Berlin this June. Dr Albou-Ganem described how this intrastromal correction procedure for the treatment of presbyopic hyperopes, reshapes the cornea by forming 5 circular concentric incisions inside the stroma. No flap is created, no epithelial is removed, and the Bowman’s layer remains intact. The Paris-based clinic has conducted a prospective study on the INTRACOR procedure on 80 eyes of 80 patients. Mean patient age was 54.5 ±5.3 years. The non-dominant eye was treated in all cases. The mean pre-operative spherical equivalent was +0.47 ±0.33D, with 84% eyes within 0 to 0.75D, and sphere and cylinder were 0 to 1.25D and 0 to -0.75D, respectively. The average addition needed pre-operatively was 2.10 ±0.41D.

Results

Uncorrected near visual acuity in the treated eyes increased from 0.32 ±0.19 pre-operatively to 0.87 ±0.22 (J3) at 1 month (33 eyes) and 0.93 ±0.14 (J2) at 3 months postoperatively (20 eyes).

Pre-operative uncorrected distance visual acuity in the treated eyes was 0.85 ±0.19. UNDVA remained stable post-operatively, equaling 0.79 ±0.19 at one month follow-up and 0.85 ±0.22 at 3 months, with 88% achieving 20/25.
Binocular distance UCVA was 0.97 pre-operatively, slightly improving to 1.0 at 3 months follow-up. Overall, seventy four percent of patients achieved ≥ 20/25 and J3. Looking at the refractive data, at 3 months postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.40 ±0.47D, mean sphere was -0.25 ±0.40D and cylinder was -0.30 ±0.27D. The mean change in spherical equivalent (myopic shift) was -0.84D.
A subgroup of 20 patients was examined in terms of any side effects or changes in parameters such as corneal asphericity and IOP. Minimal glare was reported, but half of the patients reported halos. However, these symptoms were temporary, lasting only weeks. An induced corneal asphericity was observed, changing from
-0.16 pre-operatively to -0.26 at 1 month. Central keratometry increased from 42.22D to 43.54D. No change in central pachymetry, corneal hysteresis or IOP was observed. Dr Albou-Ganem concluded her presentation by saying she finds INTRACOR to be a safe, efficient and non-invasive technique for the correction of presbyopia in emmetropic or mild hyperopic patients who are the most difficult to correct. Care is needed to ensure precise centration. Overall, the procedure provides quick visual recovery, avoiding any flap complications and no dry eye.

ASIA PACIFIC
First Asian INTRACOR Experience

Hong Kong Laser Eye Centre (HKLEC) started the first INTRACOR procedure on Asian eyes on 20 Jan 2010. Headed by Dr Victor Woo, the medical team comprises 7 highly experienced attending surgeons, 8 visiting surgeons and a scientific consultant.

To date, the INTRACOR presbyopic procedure has been performed in 87 eyes of mildly hyperopic or emmetropic patients aged 41 to 66 years. Preoperative routine eye examinations included distance vision (Snellen) and near vision (Jaeger), corneal thickness, keratometry, intraocular eye pressure and fundus evaluation.
The 1-month follow-up data showed a mean gain of uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA) from J10 (J7 – J16) to J2 (J1+ to J5). Most patients gained up to five lines of near visual acuity and no patient lost any lines of near visual acuity. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA) was minimally affected from 0.86 (approx 6/6-) to 0.81 (about 6/7.5). The mean myopic shift after 1 month was about -0.79D (spherical equivalent). The cylinder (less than 0.75D pre-operatively) remained unchanged.

Following surgery, the Orbscan corneal topography showed central steeping of the cornea of about 2.50D.

No corneal haze was observed after the procedure.

Most patients are pleased to be able to read without their reading glasses especially the centre’s nurse who had a bilateral INTRACOR procedure.

Dr Vicent Lee

Dr Vincent Lee and other doctors of HKLEC also performed LASIK flap surgery using the 520F Workstation with CUSTOMFLAP®. He is impressed with the quality of the precisely-cut flaps and the low suction, which provides more comfort to patients, especially those who are easily tensed during LASIK surgery. He was particularly impressed in one case of surgery for a very anxious patient with small palpebral fissures. Lateral canthotomies, which had originally been planned, were successfully avoided because the patient noticed no discomfort throughout the flap procedure and did not elicit any involuntary eye blinking.

AMERICAS
Advanced Control Eyetracker Technology unlocks the potential astigmatism market

Dr Timothy Peters

Promoting the benefits of using Advanced Control Eyetracker (ACE™) Technology to give improved outcomes in astigmatic patients has led to a marked increase in patient volumes according to Dr Tim Peters, from Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center, New Hampshire, US. Speaking at the TPV Global Alliance in Boston during the ASCRS, Dr Peters described how the unique features and benefits of ACE Technology provide a tremendous marketing opportunity. Providing both eye recognition and registration, ACE also makes pupil shift adjustments, so if the dilated wavefront data is needed, the laser will compensate for any pharmacologically induced shift in the pupil centre. ACE also compensates for both static rotation and dynamic rotation, making active cyclotorsional adjustments during the ablation. “It’s the only laser that can do this”, commented Dr Peters.

Marketing advantage

Dr Peters summed up the benefits of ACE as: i) you can’t treat the wrong eye, ii) accurate astigmatism alignment giving better outcomes, and iii) accurate centration of the wavefront on the pupil also gives better outcomes. These benefits provide a marketing advantage, particularly for targeting astigmatic patients.
”There are a tremendous number of people that still think they can’t have LASIK because they have astigmatism”, Dr Peters commented. He went on to say that his ER doctor told him he had wanted LASIK for years but never did it as he has a 'stigma'. Finally, Dr Peters’ clinic devised a marketing plan based on the idea that “Finally we have a laser that can treat astigmatism”. The clinic developed a radio advert which clearly explained how astigmatic patients can undergo a LASIK treatment and outlined the benefits of ACE Technology. In spite of the ongoing global financial difficulties “ The results were our best Q1 ever!” concluded Dr Peters.