The most minimally invasive technique with femtosecond laser for the correction of refractive errors and sets another milestone in corneal refractive surgery
TORONTO, July 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Carl Zeiss Canada has received its Health Canada Class III Medical Device license for ReLEx® SMILE (SMall Incision Lenticle Excision) for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism, allowing this breakthrough procedure to be available to the Canadian market. ReLEx SMILE is an innovative, minimally invasive laser technique for the correction of refractive errors. Unlike LASIK, in which tissue is ablated with an excimer laser after opening a flap, ReLEx smile does not require a flap. Instead, it creates a lenticle inside the intact cornea, which is removed through a small incision. This unique procedure is exclusively available with use of the Carl Zeiss VisuMax® femtosecond laser. Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG states, "the strong demand for the SMILE technique is clear confirmation of the company's dedication to innovation. More than 200,000 procedures have already been successfully performed worldwide; 600 trained doctors offer the treatment in more than 290 facilities in 50 countries."
Flapless
This minimally invasive refractive method without a flap enables doctors to operate with greater precision. The femtosecond laser precisely creates a lens-shaped tissue in the cornea, which is then removed in one piece through a four-millimeter incision. A flap, as required with most existing procedures, is no longer necessary. The biomechanical stability of the vital upper layers of the cornea remains largely intact. For the patient, this means a gentle, minimally invasive operation with immediate results. Thanks to the minimized severance of nerve pathways, this technique may result in a lower occurrence of dry-eye syndrome, a common side effect of laser procedures.
Treatment with only one laser – all-femto.
With ReLEx, defective vision can be treated with just a single femtosecond laser for the very first time using the VisuMax® from Carl Zeiss. The predictability of the results is better, which is particularly beneficial with high refraction values up to -10 diopters.
Maximum satisfaction – one single-step.
The ReLEx SMILE procedure is done using the solely the VisuMax, therefore, the patient does not have to be moved to another laser system. This minimizes patient stress and increases convenience. Doctors also benefit from shorter treatment times.
ReLEx smile combines the latest femtosecond technology and precise lenticle extraction into one minimally invasive correction technique in refractive surgery. Monz adds, "the ReLEx smile minimally invasive treatment method is pioneering and has the potential to herald a paradigm shift in refractive laser surgery." ReLEx smile is now available for all Canadian refractive surgery practices.
About Carl Zeiss Canada
Carl Zeiss Canada Ltd. was founded in 1963 with the scientific division selling and servicing, laboratory and surgical microscopes, and related products. Our National Headquarters is located in Toronto, Ontario, with over 80 sales and service staff servicing the country from coast-to-coast. In 2002, Carl Zeiss Canada expanded further by reintroducing the Carl Zeiss Meditec lines of surgical and ophthalmic equipment to its medical sales and service group. Locally, our business units include Medical Systems, and Microscopy including Electron/Ion Microscopes, Vision Care (spectacle lens) and Sport Optics (binoculars, rifle and spotting scopes) are distributed by Gentec International. The ZEISS brand stands for the highest quality, precision and innovation and has done so over 160 years. We aspire to unite innovation, fascination and tradition and we reflect this in our slogan: "We make it visible." A commitment towards continual quality improvement and customer orientation are key drivers for all our activities.
The head office of Carl Zeiss Meditec is in Jena, Germany. The company has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. Thirty-five percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free float. The remaining 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and opto-electronics industry. Carl Zeiss offers innovative solutions for the future-oriented markets Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Eye Care and Lifestyle Products. The Carl Zeiss Group thus employs a workforce of around 24,000 worldwide, more than 10,000 of whom are based in Germany. Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, is wholly owned by the Carl-Zeiss Foundation.
For further information visit: www.zeiss.ca
SOURCE Carl Zeiss Canada
Image with caption: "Carl Zeiss Canada Ltd. Introduces ReLEx SMILE – New Flapless Laser Treatment (CNW Group/Carl Zeiss Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150721_C7335_PHOTO_EN_450050.jpg
Press Contacts: Andre Maraldo, Market Development Manager - Surgical Ophthalmology, Carl Zeiss Canada, Phone: 416-442-3301, Email: [email protected]; Vanessa Iannetta, Marketing Communications, Carl Zeiss Canada, Phone: 416-442-3342, Email: [email protected]; www.zeiss.ca/meditec/en-ca/news
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