EyeWorld Asia-Pacific September 2014 Issue

49 EWAP CAtArACt/IOL September 2014 “The limiting factor is money,” he said, with patients paying anywhere from US$300 to US$1,000 extra for the technology. “One of the limitations I have observed is that surgeons will be trained on how to use the femtosecond laser and yet they will perform only occasional cases,” he said. This makes it hard to get comfortable using the laser. Meanwhile, those who perform a significant percentage of their cases with the femto laser become comfortable more quickly. Dr. Daya said the technology is highly desirable, but the cost is prohibitive for the majority of ophthalmologists. “It is only the private sector that can afford the laser, and the challenge is justifying a higher cost to private patients,” he said. “The main limiting factor is money followed by time dedicated to it,” Dr. Alio said. He said that operating room time is increased, and it can require a second doctor to be involved in the procedures. Claims for use Dr. Daya said the majority of centers present femtosecond cataract surgery as a superior, more precise option that carries a premium price. “Claims of safety and precision are the main drivers,” he said. “We have taken a different stance from others in that as a premium practice, we only provide premium surgery and therefore do femtosecond laser surgery on all cataract and RLE patients,” he said. “We would not offer a procedure that we believed was ‘less safe.’” “Femtosecond cataract surgery is presented as the most relevant innovation affecting the practice of cataract surgery at this moment,” Dr. Alió said. “It is offered as an alternative to conventional surgery, as less depending on surgeon skills and more uniformly guaranteeing outcomes.” The moment flapless surgery becomes clearly visible: in a smile. This is the moment we work for. // ReLEx MADE BY ZEISS Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labelling and instructions may vary by country. For country specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Flapless. All-femto. Single-step. For the first time ever, advanced femtosecond technology and highly precise lenticule extraction are combined to perform minimally invasive corrections – with a single system: the ZEISS VisuMax ® . Thereby, a refractive lenticule is created within the intact cornea and extracted through a small incision. The new flapless procedure offers clear advantages: minimal surgical impact on the corneal stability and excellent predictability of the refractive outcomes. ZEISS Refractive Lasers at ESCRS 2014: • Live Surgery: 12.09.14, 7 pm • Lunchtime Symposium: 14.09.14, 1 – 2 pm • SMILE WetLab: Fr – Tue, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm at Booth E-14 Stay in touch with latest developments in ophthalmology. Experience 3 rd generation laser vision correction: www.meditec.zeiss.com/escrs-2014