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Phacoemulsification easier, safer, more efficient with ‘intelligent’ machines
MILAN — Increasingly “intelligent” machines make phacoemulsification easier, safer and more efficient, according to Simonetta Morselli, MD, who was broadcast live to the OSN Italy meeting while performing surgery with the new Bausch + Lomb Stellaris Elite phaco system with adaptive fluidics.
“The machine maintains a constantly stable chamber by automatically balancing aspiration and infusion. We can set the chamber at a specific pressure, 20 mm Hg for instance, and this is precisely maintained throughout surgery. Whatever amount of water I aspirate, the machine infuses the equivalent and the pressure remains constant,” she said.
This is important for all patients, but even more in specific cases such as high myopes. IOP spikes in these eyes would cause lowering of the iridolenticular diaphragm, potentially leading to increased hydration of the vitreous and increased risk for vitreous detachment and possibly retinal detachment, she explained.
The machine also has intelligent capability for detecting leakage through the incision and has four levels of compensation based on incision size and amount of leakage.
“It is an intelligent machine that helps the surgeon to operate with minimum trauma and maximum efficiency,” Morselli said.
Another breakthrough technology developed by Bausch +Lomb for phaco surgery is the EyeCee One IOL, a preloaded hydrophobic lens that is implanted through a 2-mm incision.
“Previously, preloaded lenses required at least a 2.4-mm incision. This lens allows us to perform MICS that remains MICS also at the stage of lens implantation,” Morselli said.
The phaco machine now has integrated 27-gauge vitrectomy capabilities. This, again, is an advancement because 25 gauge has been the limit so far.
“Other companies have developed machines with intelligent sensors, including Alcon and DORC, and this is definitely the new frontier of phaco surgery,” Morselli said. – by Michela Cimberle
Disclosure: Morselli reports she is a consultant for Bausch + Lomb.