SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OptiMedica Corp. has announced that Prof. Burkhard Dick, chairman and head of the University Eye Clinic Bochum in Germany, has become the first ophthalmic surgeon in Europe to treat patients with its Catalys Precision Laser System for cataract surgery. The CE mark approved Catalys combines a femtosecond laser, integrated Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging and OptiMedica’s breakthrough pattern scanning technology in an ergonomic, easy-to-use system that brings new levels of precision and accuracy to the cataract procedure.
“We are thrilled that patients in Europe are now being treated with Catalys,” said Mark J. Forchette, OptiMedica president and chief executive officer. “We welcome Prof. Dick’s collaboration and are proud to know that his patients are now benefiting from the unparalleled precision that Catalys provides.”
Prof. Dick has been using Catalys to perform laser capsulotomy and lens fragmentation on patients. Findings published in the peer-reviewed publications Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and Science Translational Medicine have demonstrated the system’s ability to deliver industry-leading improvement in precision and accuracy across these steps.1,2
“I have been very impressed with how quickly patients have embraced Catalys, and how easily and rapidly I’ve been able to integrate the technology into my practice,” said Prof. Dick. “The precision and accuracy are obvious, and patients are clearly benefitting from the enhanced performance that the system provides. I also have been pleasantly surprised by how the lens softening patterns have resulted in such a significant reduction in the amount of ultrasound energy needed to remove even hard lenses. I am convinced that Catalys laser treatment is the new standard in cataract surgery.”
Prof. Dick is a new member of OptiMedica’s global Medical Advisory Board, a group of cataract experts who have worked closely with the company to develop Catalys and continue to work on advances in cataract surgery. He brings to the team his deep knowledge and experience as a leading international ophthalmic surgeon as well as a strategic scientific relationship with the Ruhr University Bochum, where he will collaborate with OptiMedica on further cataract research.
OptiMedica’s Catalys Precision Laser System is not for sale in the United States.
About OptiMedica
OptiMedica Corp. is a Silicon Valley-based global ophthalmic device company dedicated to developing performance-driven technologies that improve patient outcomes. Exclusively focused in the cataract therapeutic area, the company has developed the Catalys Precision Laser System to deliver unparalleled precision in cataract surgery through image-guided pre-operative lens conditioning. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., OptiMedica’s legacy of innovation in ophthalmology also includes the development and commercialization of the PASCAL® Method of retinal photocoagulation, which was acquired by Topcon Corp. in August 2010. The company is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Alloy Ventures, DAG Ventures, BlackRock Private Equity Partners and Bio*One Capital. For more information, please visit www.optimedica.com.
References
1 Friedman, NJ, et al., “Femtosecond Laser Capsulotomy,” Journal
of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 2011 July; 37(7): 1189-1198
2
Palanker, D., et al., “Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery with
Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography,” Science Translational
Medicine, Vol 2 Issue 58: 1-9 (2010)