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8-year follow up results revealed for the ELIOS® Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy procedure combined with cataract surgery

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LOS ANGELES, CA, United States, 17-Feb-2022 — /EPR HEALTHCARE NEWS/ — Elios Vision Inc. announced today 8-year follow up results of its novel ELIOS® Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy procedure combined with cataract surgery.

Key study findings:

  • 161 eyes of 128 patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension and cataract received Phaco-ELIOS, and were followed over an 8-year period
  • Significant mean IOP reduction from 19.3 mmHg at baseline to 15.4 mmHg after 8 years of follow-up (p=0.0040)
  • Significant reduction in medication requirements
  • Only 3.7% of patients required secondary surgical glaucoma intervention during the 8-year follow-up period
  • No serious intra- or post-operative events were observed

“This large cohort study provides encouraging evidence that the ‘implant free’ Phaco-ELIOS procedure causes minimal trauma, appears to show lasting IOP control with no serious intra- or post-operative complications, and low rate of incisional secondary surgical intervention over a period of at least 8 years,” said Thomas W. Samuelson, MD, founding partner of Minnesota Eye Consultants and an Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota. Dr Samuelson added that, “it is encouraging for patients that the number of topical medications required to control IOP was reduced significantly up to 4 years and remained below baseline levels across the entire 8-year follow-up period.”

About the ELIOS procedure:

  • The ELIOS procedure creates ten ‘microchannels (210µm)’ in the trabecular meshwork using an excimer laser.
  • The microchannels facilitate aqueous outflow into Schlemm’s canal, the eyes natural outflow pathway, reducing IOP2 and preserving the integrity, structure, and function of the trabecular meshwork.
  • Combining ELIOS with phacoemulsification is an ‘implant free’ minimally invasive glaucoma procedure with a rapid learning curve for ophthalmic surgeons.
  • The ELIOS procedure is approved in Europe for use in adults with glaucoma, with or without cataract, and is undergoing clinical trials in the US under an investigational device exemption (IDE).
  • Data on the ELIOS procedure has been published in 12 clinical studies2 with over 850 eyes treated showing an IOP reduction of 20-40% from baseline, a significant reduction of medication for up to 4 years, and up to 81% of patients ‘medication free’ at 1 year,3 and a favorable safety profile.

Over the past decade minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) have transformed the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma and are an attractive alternative to more invasive incisional procedures such as trabeculectomy and tube shunts. Despite the growing popularity of MIGS, combining cataract and glaucoma surgery is not yet the preferred choice by most surgeons.

This clinical study shows that the ELIOS procedure is attractive to all ophthalmic surgeons for patients with glaucoma that are not controlled by medications or SLT because it reduces IOP to mid-teens for at least 8 years, minimizes postop inflammation, avoids intraocular implants, has a favorable safety profile, with or without cataract surgery.

Why are these findings relevant?

  • In 2022 it is estimated that around 29 million people globally will undergo cataract removal and around 20% also have glaucoma or ocular hypertension4.
  • These findings demonstrate a sustained reduction of IOP that is longer than any other currently available MIGS procedure.
  • Routinely combining cataract and glaucoma treatment is appealing since it can reduce the undesirable burden and side effects of drops and it can avoid patients undergoing two separate surgical procedures which also is more efficient for healthcare systems.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Clinics, Doctors, Eye Care, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Ophthalmology, Surgery

Eye Care – The Next Big Thing In Kerala’s Medical Travel Industry

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Medical travel industry in Kerala is all set to broaden its scope through micro cataract surgery and support services for cataract patients. It is considered as the next big thing after Ayurveda and dentistry in the domain of medical travel in Kerala. Micro Cataract Surgery is gaining the attention of cataract patients. Apart from its efficiency, after 24 hours of this surgery, patients are able to return to their normal life. And what more; this quick recovery period inspires many to opt for holidays in God’s Own Country.

Interestingly, Mulamoottil Eye Hospital (MEH), one of the pioneers in eye care is offering micro cataract surgery at Asia’s lowest cost – INR 30,000 (US $700). Besides the affordable cost of the surgery, MEH offers free accommodation for two days.

“Unlike conventional cataract surgery, the advanced micro cataract surgery at Mulamoottil Eye Hospital uses 0.9 mm tip inside the eye. Patients enjoy full recovery after 24 hours, enabling them to take head bath, go for office work, drive car, apply medicine on their own and even take a flight,” says Dr. Ashley Thomas Jacob, Medical Director of MEH, which has a tradition of 125 years in eye care.

Mulamoottil Eye Hospital is the largest eye hospital in Kerala and is located at Kozhencherry, a small town in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. MEH is also the pioneers in Customized Cataract Surgery. The hospital also offers precise surgeries for presbyopia, myopia (short-sight) diabetic eye disease etc. with shortest post-surgical recovery period. It also conducts research and training activities in ophthalmology.

By virtue of its location, Mulamoottil Eye Hospital is close to some of the captivating travel destinations in Kerala that include Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Fort Kochi, Munnar, Periyar etc. And this makes patients from outside Kerala and non-resident Indians to club holidaying in Kerala, popular as ‘God’s Own Country’ with their visit for eye treatment; especially after undergoing micro cataract and customized cataract surgeries.

Via EPR Network
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Eye Care, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Surgery

Optical Express provides strong presence at ASCRS Annual Meeting

Optical Express’ chief medical director Steve Schallhorn, in addition to several other Optical Express surgeons and International Medical Advisory Board (IMAB) members, have attended and presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting.

The Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery segment of the meeting brought together ASCRS members from across the globe to learn about and discuss the newest trends and technologies in the field of refractive surgery.

Mr Schallhorn presented findings from a number of different studies, in particular one highlighting the results of a study on corneal thickness. The presentation, titled ‘Should we perform LASIK on thin corneas?’ discussed how performing LASIK on patients with thin corneas is safe and effective. Mr Schallhorn’s research involved 81,715 eyes, a virtually unprecedented amount in the field. He also presented a poster titled ‘Patient Satisfaction After LASIK: Analysis of More Than 15,000 Patients’, which discussed the high level of patient satisfaction achieved after modern LASIK.

Optical Express’ UK medical director Professor Jan Venter was also a presenter at the conference. Prof Venter discussed exciting research comparing different techniques to perform enhancements. Miss Susanna Boytha, one of the Optical Express surgeons, presented as well, assessing various methods of flap creation in LASIK surgery.

Members of Optical Express’ IMAB were also actively involved as panellists and speakers. John Vukich, Steven Dell, Marguerite McDonald, Michael Knorz, Colman Kraff, Stephen Coleman and Stephen Slade all presented findings of their current and recent research.

Via EPR Network
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Eye Care, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Surgery

Optical Express Optometrist Completes 7th Vision Aid Overseas Project

Optical Express Optometrist Ed Baldwin has successfully completed his seventh Vision Aid Overseas project, a trip to Burkina Faso to distribute eyeglasses and screen patients for cataract surgery.

Baldwin went on his first project with Vision Aid in 2001, working with a team to provide eye tests and eyeglasses in Latvian prisons. Since then, his projects have included such locales as Ethiopia, Moldova, Bulgaria, and Ghana. He has also served as a team leader on more than one occasion. Baldwin’s most recent trip was unique, however, because of the cataract screening element.

“My most recent trip to Burkina Faso was a little different, since we were not only giving out glasses but also trying to find patients who needed cataract surgery,” he said. “We found about a hundred patients that needed intraocular lens treatment, and another team went out a few weeks after us with surgeons. It was great, because normally when you see patients with cataracts you can’t really do anything about it.”

Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) sends teams of volunteer Optometrists and dispensingopticians to developing nations to screen and outfit patients with appropriate spectacles. Nearing its 25th anniversary, VAO has provided 300,000 individuals with spectacles, and conducted 600,000 eye tests.

Baldwin commented, “Volunteering is the most rewarding thing you can do,” Baldwin said. “It’s giving people sight where they would otherwise be blind. In a lot of places there are no provisions for eye care, so if you haven’t got a pair of glasses you can’t work and feed your family.

“When you test eyes back home in the UK, the general public have a huge choice of opticians. In parts of Africa, people will walk from miles around to see you. You’re really making a difference to people’s lives in a short space of time with something as simple as a pair of spectacles.”

Baldwin has worked for Optical Express since 2001, and is currently based in Cardiff, providing both laser eye surgery and intraocular lens treatment consultations to prospective patients.

Via EPR Network
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