FOR RELEASE 4/7/2010, Wednesday
BOSTON — More than 1,000 cataract surgeons will attend a live surgery and symposium in Boston this Friday, observing two surgical procedures conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Whitman. He will implant the Crystalens® AO, the only FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens (IOL), in one patient and the Akreos® MICS lens in another patient.
Surgeons will be able to discuss the surgery with a panel of renowned peers, including Dr. Terry Devine and Dr. John Hovanesian, with Dr. Richard Lindstrom serving as moderator.
"I'm honored to be sharing this experience with the surgeons who will be watching live in Boston. It promises to be an excellent experience for all of us. This opportunity to observe and discuss a surgery benefits both surgeons and our cataract and presbyopic patients," said Dr. Whitman. He will perform the surgery at Key Whitman Eye Center in Dallas, with the procedures broadcast via closed circuit to the Boston Sheraton Hotel.
The live surgery and symposium — "Celebrating Innovations in Premium and Micro-Incision Advanced Optics Live Surgery and Symposium” — is sponsored by Bausch + Lomb. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting is being held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from April 9 to 14, attracting thousands of surgeons to the Boston area.
"There are many premium solutions available to cataract surgeons today. This type of symposium provides an excellent opportunity for ophthalmologists to share new surgical techniques and ideas with each other, which benefits the industry and patients," said Tom Frinzi, vice president of sales, Surgical, Bausch + Lomb.
Three million cataract surgeries are performed every year in the U.S. A cataract is a clouding on the normally clear lens in the eye. When it forms, the natural lens in the patient's eye is surgically replaced by an intraocular lens. Research indicates that only a small fraction of people realize that not all intraocular lenses are the same. The research also indicates that a number of patients are willing to pay out-of-pocket costs in order to get the best quality of vision.
Crystalens AO is the only FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens. Unlike the standard cataract replacement lenses, Crystalens AO is designed to not only eliminate the patient's cataract but also to give the patient full range of vision so that the patient can see near, far and everything in between. Many Crystalens patients hardly if ever need their glasses or contacts again.
The Akreos MICS lens — also made by Bausch + Lomb — is the final step on the path to sub-2 mm micro-incision cataract surgery. The lens is inserted through a 1.8 mm incision and provides exceptional vision quality and contrast sensitivity with an aberration-free design.
In both surgeries, the patient's natural lens will be removed by the Stellaris® Vision Enhancement System, which creates a removal incision of only 1.8 mm — the smallest incision currently available to surgeons and their patients. The smaller incision complements the surgical technique and helps develop positive patient results.
For more information about the Crystalens AO, the Akreos MICS lens and the Stellaris system, please visit www.bauschsurgical.com.
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About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to bringing visionary ideas to eye health. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. The Bausch + Lomb name is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.
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