AAO 2023: Alcon spotlights technology in San Francisco

SMARTCataract, the first application in Alcon’s cloud-based platform uniquely designed for surgical ophthalmic practices, is rolling out to surgeons across the U.S. (Image courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Alcon continues to demonstrate its commitment to patients and eye care professionals as it provides connected equipment ecosystems via its digital innovation efforts,

The company highlighted its technology at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2023 annual meeting.

SMARTCataract, the first application in Alcon’s cloud-based platform uniquely designed for surgical ophthalmic practices, is rolling out to surgeons across the U.S.^1-4 

With SMARTCataract, ophthalmic practices have the opportunity for seamless connectivity by linking data systems and diagnostic devices, including the ARGOS Biometer with Image Guidance, with cataract surgical equipment, including LenSx Femtosecond Laser and LuxOR Revalia Ophthalmic Microscope.

SMARTCataract has demonstrated significant time savings delivered during the cataract evaluation, planning process, operating room (OR) and postoperative (post-op) workflow for cataract patients.⁵

According to the company, time savings with SMARTCataract has ranged from 4.3 mins versus traditional methods (for non-astigmatic non-post-refractive patients) and 13.8 mins versus traditional methods (for post-refractive patients).⁵ 

According to the company, positive surgeon feedback has continued as the product has begun its official rollout.

“With SMARTCataract, my staff and I are spending less time on manual data entry and surgical planning, ultimately helping us to operate with greater efficiency than ever before,” said Eric Jennings, MD at Woolfson Eye Institute. “I use the platform to seamlessly connect data across biometric instruments, cutting down the time needed to transfer information from one piece of equipment to the next. In doing so, it can remove the opportunity for transcription error and allows us to operate with greater confidence in our surgical outcomes for our patients.”

According to the news release, data highlights the benefits of several surgical ophthalmic products, including its industry-leading refractive and surgical glaucoma innovations. These key studies include:

• Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Hydrus Microstent for patients with mild to moderate Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Canada, Presented by Isra Hussein, BSc (On Demand, e-Poster)⁶
• International Multicenter, Prospective, myopic Femtosecond-laser assisted myopic LASIK, customized by automated ray-tracing calculation of low and high order aberrations, Presented by John Kanellopoulous, MD (November 4, 3:00-3:30 p.m.)⁷
• Enhancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Ophthalmic Clinical Trials, Presented by Lydia Gateri, MS (On Demand, e-Poster)⁸
• Phacoemulsification at High IOP and Physiologic IOP: Impact on Anterior and Posterior Segment Physiology, Presented by Dr. Matthew Rauen (On Demand, e-Poster)⁹
• Comparison of Visual Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Topography-Guided LASIK with Novel GIS-Software Versus Wavefront Optimized LASIK. Poster Presentation, Presented by Elise Reid & Dr. Daniel Terveen (November 4, 11:06-11:12 a.m.)¹⁰
• Prediction of centration and tilt of IOL using pre-operative lens images obtained with anterior segment OCT, Presented by Dr. Naoyuki Maeda (On Demand, e-Poster)¹¹

References

1. Blaylock JF, Hall B. Astigmatic results of a diffractive trifocal toric IOL following intraoperative aberrometry guidance. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020;14:4373-4378. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S285711.
2. Cionni RJ, Dimalanta R, Breen M, Hamilton C. A large retrospective database analysis comparing outcomes of intraoperative aberrometry with conventional preoperative planning. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2018;44(10):1230-1235. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2018.07.016.
3. Van Vliet EJ, Bredenhoff E, Sermeus W, Kop LM, Sol JCA, Harten WH. Exploring the relation between process design and efficiency in high-volume cataract pathways from a lean thinking perspective. Int J Qual Health Care. 2011;23(1):83-93. doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzq071.
4. Håkansson I, Lundström M, Stenevi U, Ehinger B. Data reliability and structure in the Swedish National Cataract Register. Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 2001;79(5):518-523. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0420.2001.790519.
5. Zavodni Z, MD., Li-Chen P, MPH., Saylor M, BA., Cheng H, MSc. Enhancing Clinic and Operating Room Connectivity Via a Cloud-Based Application to Improve Practice Efficiency for Cataract Surgery. ASCRS, Washington D.C. April 22, 2022.
6. Hussein I, MD., Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Hydrus Microstent for patients with mild to moderate Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Canada. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.
7. Kanellopoulous J, MD., International Multicenter, Prospective, myopic Femtosecond-laser assisted myopic LASIK, customized by automated ray-tracing calculation of low and high order aberrations. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.
8. Gateri L, MS., Enhancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Ophthalmic Clinical Trials. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.
9. Rauen, M Phacoemulsification at High IOP and Physiologic IOP: Impact on Anterior and Posterior Segment Physiology. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.
10. Terveen D, MD., Comparison of Visual Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Topography-Guided LASIK with Novel GIS-Software Versus Wavefront Optimized LASIK. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.
11. Maeda N, MD., Prediction of centration and tilt of IOL using pre-operative lens images obtained with anterior segment OCT. Presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) Annual Meeting; November 3-6, 2023; San Francisco, CA, USA.