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Media Contacts:
Kristy Marks
Director, Corporate Communications, Bausch + Lomb
kristy.marks@bausch.com
908-927-0683

Teresa Panas
BioComm Network, Inc., on behalf of Bausch + Lomb
tpanas@biocommnetwork.com
973-809-8590

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 22, 2018 – Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, today announced the introduction of 25- and 27-gauge Bi-Blade® dual port vitrectomy cutters for the Stellaris Elite™ vision enhancement system.  The new probes will be featured at the Vit-Buckle Society Meeting in Miami Beach, Florida during a live surgery on Friday, March 23, from 10:45a.m. to 12:15p.m., and available for trial during the Vit-Buckle Society Wet Lab on Saturday, March 24, from 3:45p.m. to 5:45p.m. EDT.

“We understand that surgeons require a variety of options to meet a wide range of procedural needs and advance their surgical techniques,” said Chuck Hess, vice president and general manager, U.S. Surgical, Bausch + Lomb. “The introduction of these new advanced technology probes, which provide significant advantages over single-port cutters, demonstrates our commitment to continually delivering innovations that allow retina surgeons to achieve more with our surgical systems.”

While single-port cutters cut only in the forward direction, Bi-Blade cutters cut in both the forward and backward directions, enabling two cuts per cycle.  This innovative design used with the Stellaris Elite now offers an effective 15,000 cuts per minute (cpm) rate, resulting in increased flow efficiency and control compared to prior generation guillotine cutters. The Bi-Blade design also allows for more consistent flow rate and reduced retinal traction.

“Smaller gauge devices enable me to perform many techniques, both simple and complicated, more efficiently than with a larger gauge cutter,” said Sunir Garg, M.D., Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. “I look forward to incorporating the Bi-Blade dual port cutters into my practice in order to take advantage of these benefits, including the consistent flow rate and reduced traction that the Bi-Blade design offers.”

Visit the Wet Lab during the Vit-Buckle Society Meeting to try the new Bi-Blade cutters, or view the live surgery on Friday, March 23.

About Stellaris Elite™

Introduced in 2017, the Stellaris Elite™ vision enhancement system is Bausch + Lomb’s next-generation surgical platform, which offers cataract and retina capabilities in a single platform, as well as many new cutting-edge innovations.  These include:

• the Adaptive Fluidics™ chamber stabilization system, which combines precise aspiration control with predictive infusion management to create a highly responsive and controlled surgical environment;

• the Attune® energy management system, which utilizes highly efficient emulsification to complement Adaptive Fluidics and deliver efficient, low energy, controlled lens removal;

• a variety of vitrectomy cutters operating up to an effective 15,000 cpm, and

• a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance laser probes.

Stellaris Elite also offers surgeons the ability to seamlessly integrate future technologies, such as the Vitesse™ hypersonic vitrectomy system, which will be availability exclusively on Stellaris Elite.

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 with products available in more than 100 countries. 

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Stellaris Elite, Adaptive Fluidics, Attune and Vitesse are trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates.
BiBlade is a trademark of Medical Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc. used by agreement.
Any other product/brand names are trademarks of the respective owners.
© 2018 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.