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Carl Zeiss Meditec: Benchmark for Eye Disease Treatment -- Company Ships 15,000th Ophthalmic Laser Worldwide
Therapeutic Lasers Recognized by Physicians for Extreme Precision
| Source: Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
DUBLIN, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 30, 2007 -- A valuable tool in the fight to prevent vision
loss is now more widely available as Carl Zeiss Meditec ships its 15,000th
ophthalmic laser to the East West Eye Institute in Los Angeles. The premium
lasers, which are used to perform retinal, cataract and glaucoma disease
therapy, have been installed in major teaching institutions as well as
leading eye care centers worldwide such as Columbia University, the
University Eye Clinic of Milan in Italy, and the International Centre for
Advancement of Rural Eye Care in India.
"We purchased the VISULAS laser because of the successful history we have
had with Carl Zeiss Meditec, and because of its extreme accuracy during
therapeutic procedures," said Fred Kurata, M.D., president of the East West
Eye Institute. "The new laser has a particularly high level of precision so
there are little to no side effects for the patient and significantly less
risk. As a result, we are able to more confidently treat patients with
diseases of the retina such as diabetic retinopathy, as well as preserve
vision in patients with glaucoma."
With its 15,000th ophthalmic laser shipment, Carl Zeiss Meditec has
leveraged its suite of ophthalmic laser systems as the benchmark for
therapy, safety and efficiency. The VISULAS YAG III Combi -- the laser
installed in Dr. Kurata's lab -- is designed for the treatment of retinal,
cataract and glaucoma therapy in one system, offering photocoagulation,
post cataract treatments, laser trabeculoplasty and combined iridotomy.
With a high pulse frequency of 2.5 Hz for faster procedures and a
four-point aiming beam for perfect targeting and astigmatism detection, the
VISULAS YAG III is considered the gold standard in photodisruption.
Additional highlights include the patented ZEISS Super-Gaussian beam
profile, which ensures that optical breakdown is achieved with very low
pulse energies (2.5 mJ in Air), resulting in fewer side effects for the
patient and less risk due to a high level of accuracy during therapy.
Additionally, the electronic micromanipulator allows for simultaneous
guidance of the slit lamp illumination and laser to maximize treatment
precision, efficiency and field of view.
The Carl Zeiss Meditec lasers will be showcased at the upcoming American
Academy of Refractive and Cataract Surgery (ASCRS) meeting, April 27 - May
1, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting, November 10 -13,
2007, and at the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) annual
meeting, December 1 - 5, 2007.
About Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma
Diabetic retinopathy results in damage to the tiny blood vessels that
nourish the retina caused by complications of diabetes. The effect of
diabetic retinopathy on vision varies widely, depending on the stage of the
disease. Some common symptoms include blurred vision, hemorrhaging vessels
that leak into the retina causing spots, and sudden vision loss. In the
later phases of the disease, continued abnormal vessel growth and scar
tissue may cause serious problems such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without
warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. In
fact, experts estimate that half the people affected by glaucoma may not
know they have it. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the
disease, as there is no cure for glaucoma. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among
African Americans, and the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
If detected early and accurately, physicians will have more time to treat
the disease and preserve vision, possibly before vision loss.
About Carl Zeiss Meditec
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704) is one of the world's leading
medical technology companies. This market position is based on over 160
years of experience in optical innovation. The company has two primary
areas of activity. In the field of ophthalmology, Carl Zeiss Meditec offers
integrated solutions for treating the four main eye diseases: vision
defects (refraction), cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders. Product
innovations range from basic systems such as slit lamps and fundus cameras
to standard setting diagnostic systems such as the Humphrey® Field
Analyzer, the Stratus OCT™ and the IOLMaster®, through to the surgical
microscopes and innovative treatment systems in refractive laser surgery.
In the field of neuro and ENT surgery, Carl Zeiss Meditec is the world's
leading provider of surgical microscopes and microsurgical visualisation
solutions for a very broad range of applications, such as tumour and
vascular surgery in the head region and/or spinal surgery. The most recent
example of our innovative performance in the area of microsurgery is the
OPMI Pentero® visualization system, which allows efficient and ergonomic
patient treatment.
Carl Zeiss Meditec's medical technology portfolio is rounded off by
visualization systems for doctors in private practice and promising future
technologies such as intraoperative radiation therapy, which allows the
targeted treatment of breast cancer and brain cancer directly during
surgery.
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is based in Jena, Germany, with subsidiaries in
Germany (Carl Zeiss Meditec Surgical GmbH and Carl Zeiss Meditec
Vertriebsgesellschaf mbH), the USA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin
California), in Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec Co., Ltd., Tokyo), Spain (Carl
Zeiss Meditec Iberia S.A., Madrid) and France (Ioltech SAS, La Rochelle,
and Carl Zeiss Meditec France SAS, Le Pecq).
Thirty-five percent of the Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free float. The
remaining 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss, one of the world's leading
international groups engaged in the optical and opto-electronics industry.
For more information, visit www.meditec.zeiss.com/usa.