Vit/ret surgeons may benefit from new OR technologies

FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil — Newer technologies that are now or will soon be available will “make a big difference” to vitreoretinal surgeons, said one speaking here at the Brazilian Retina and Vitreous Society meeting.

David Chow, MD, from the Illinois Retina Institute, told attendees that in the past 3 or 4 years, there has been a shifting preference from contact to non-contact wide-view imaging systems. The greatest advantage of the non-contact systems, he said, is the independence from assistance surgeons gain. On the other hand, he noted, contact systems offer the widest field of view and sharper resolution. Dr. Chow warned about a learning curve and occasional condensation on the lens as it approaches the eye.

He also noted two new xenon light sources that will be commercialized in the next 4 to 6 months. According to Dr. Chow, Alcon’s light has extensive filtering, allowing it to pull out all of the ultraviolet or blue light, which makes it “safer, wider and brighter” than current models. In 25-gauge surgery, he said, this light source offers double the power of current halogen lights.

“Synergetics’ xenon light source, the Photon, is also brighter, wider and safer. It has a massive output and power capability," Dr. Chow said.

Although the concept of chandeliers was good, “they were not bright enough to illuminate the whole retina as well as we would like," he added. "The chandelier attached to the Synergetics’ system has an output that is five times that of the 20-gauge system. And since it is so far from the retina, you can leave it there in full power for over 6 hours with no phototoxicity.

"It makes a difference because with your other hand, you can hold a direct light pipe for tangential illumination,” he said.