AEI joins int’l LASIK conference

Asian Eye Institute (AEI) stood out among LASIK centers in the Philippines when Dr. Robert Ang, AEI LASIK surgeon, presented the results of a study on the effectiveness of the new Bausch & Lomb (B&L) Zyoptix Personalized Aspheric Treatment at the 8th B&L Annual Zyoptix Alliance held in Hong Kong last month.

LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, a surgical procedure to reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses.

At the conference, Ang compared the new Zyoptix Personalized Aspheric Treatment software to previously available treatments.

The new technology addresses four areas of concern in LASIK — nearsightedness, astigmatism, and pre-existing and induced higher-order aberrations — leading to better vision quality, less glare and halos, and better night-time vision.

It is an advanced and sophisticated algorithm that improves post-LASIK outcomes and patient satisfaction.

AEI was one of four study sites, along with two eye centers in Singapore, and one in Hong Kong. The Personalized Aspheric Treatment will soon be available exclusively at AEI.

Ang is the only Philippine representative to the Asian Refractive Committee (ARC), composed of the finest LASIK surgeons in Asia.

The ARC is the advisory body for product and technology development for B&L LASIK platforms.

The Zyoptix system used at AEI takes LASIK to a new frontier and makes treatment unique to each eye, thus addressing individual vision errors.

Dr. Hung Ming Lee of Parkway Eye Center in Singapore discussed the latest enhancement to the Zyoptix platform — the Advanced Control Eyetracking or Active Cyclotorsion Eyetracker (ACE), which is already in use at AEI.

This feature adjusts for eye movement within 15 degrees in any direction during surgery, movement within 15 degrees in any direction during surgery, thus ensuring that the laser beam is always aimed at the correct intended spot on the cornea. This translates to peace of mind and better safety and outcomes for both patients and surgeon.

Prof. Hungwon Tchah of the University of Ulsan and Asan Medical Center, the largest general hospital in Korea, discussed a procedure called Epilasik.

In this procedure, a specially designed instrument called the Zyoptix XP Epitome is used to create a thin flap of corneal epithelium, benefiting patients with thin corneas and dry eye syndrome and for patients who actively play sports or are military personnel.

The AEI was part of the field observation study that B&L conducted when they introduced the new Zyoptix XP Epitome, and is now in the process of acquiring this technology to make it available for patients.

Experts also discussed progress on two new technology solutions for presbyopic patients (those who need reading glasses).

These are the B&L Crystalens, the first FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens, and the Acufocus Kamra Inlay, a corneal device now undergoing clinical trials in preparation for FDA approval.

The AEI is participating in the Acufocus multi-center clinical trial.

Aside from Ang, AEI research coordinator Irene Tam, O.D., and AEI optometrist Ruby Chua, O.D., also attended the Zyoptix Alliance.

To serve its patients better, the AEI provides its personnel with opportunities to go abroad and learn state-of-the-art eye care and treatment technologies.

Ang was also a speaker at the World Ophthalmology Congress in Hong Kong this year, the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in Vietnam in 2007, and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Singapore in 2006.