Bausch + Lomb Announces 23-Gauge Fragmentation Needle Availability for Stellaris® PC Vision Enhancement System

New Accessory offers Control, Stability and Efficiency in the Eye During Vitreoretinal Surgery

FOR RELEASE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, today announced the availability of a 23-gauge fragmentation needle for the Stellaris^® PC Vision Enhancement System. This new ultrasonic needle design is used during vitreoretinal procedures to effectively remove the lens material from the posterior chamber of the eye with balanced irrigation and aspiration through 23-gauge incisions providing enhanced intraoperative control and efficiency. Prior to its introduction, surgeons were required to use larger fragmentation needles (20-gauge) in order to remove lens fragments during surgery, thus necessitating the need for increased incision size, suturing of the wounds and lengthened recovery time. Surgeons are now able to utilize the 23-gauge fragmentation needle to help balance the inflow and outflow in the eye and achieve a suture-less wound closure.

When combined with the Stellaris PC with 23-gauge valve Entry Site Alignment (ESA) system, this advancement will provide surgeons: 

• Use of the existing cannula wound architecture to insert the 23-gauge fragmentation needle into the eye
  
  
• Fluidic and intraocular pressure (IOP) stability during lens nucleus removal, due to the consistency in gauge sizes for in-flow and outflow of fluid.
  
  
• Easy replacement of the original valved cannula in the same wound for completion of the procedure.
  
  

“I’m pleased to have the availability of the 23-gauge fragmentation needle,” said Kevin J. Blinder, MD, from the Retina Institute in St. Louis, MO. “I enjoy the convenience of preserving my 23-guage sclerotomy, while utilizing a highly efficient state-of-the art fragmentation needle and simply replacing the valved cannula after the lens has been removed.  No more need to enlarge the sclerotomy, with subsequent suturing to maintain the integrity of the globe. This is just another example of Bausch + Lomb’s continued expansion of the Stellaris PC offering to provide surgeons with greater utility with this innovative surgical platform.”

For more information on the Stellaris PC Vision Enhancement System, click here.

About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing, and restoring people’s eyesight. Our core businesses include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. We develop, manufacture and market one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in our industry, which are available in more than 100 countries. 

Stellaris is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates.  
© 2015 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.