Market Start for SCHWIND SIRAMA® - SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions
Market Start for SCHWIND SIRAMA® - SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions
Market Start for SCHWIND SIRAMA® - SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions
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news<br />
Issue 2/2012<br />
Save the Date<br />
<strong>Market</strong> <strong>Start</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA ®<br />
Nanosecond laser launched at the ESCRS Congress 2012<br />
The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA has arrived<br />
(previously known as the SmartTech<br />
Laser). The answer from <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
<strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>-<strong>solutions</strong> to femtosecond<br />
lasers was launched into the market at<br />
the ESCRS Congress 2012 in Milan, Italy.<br />
The new nanosecond laser enables<br />
nano-precise cuts and uniquely smooth<br />
cut surfaces when creating flaps. Its<br />
innovative microchip laser ensures<br />
short treatment times and maximum<br />
safety. The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA has integrated<br />
pupil detection and takes input<br />
from the pupil offset into account.<br />
The name <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA has<br />
two meanings. For one, „SIRAMA“ is a<br />
regional type of the so-called panther<br />
chameleon (Furcifer Pardalis). Its home<br />
is in Madagascar and it is capable of<br />
special per<strong>for</strong>mance. It can effectively<br />
and precisely adapt to changing conditions<br />
like no other creature. Unique<br />
in its own way, the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA<br />
is also closely associated with the<br />
<strong>tech</strong>nological leading <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS<br />
excimer laser. There is a bit of panther<br />
in the Furcifer Pardalis, and furthermore,<br />
the name AMARIS spelled backwards<br />
is the name SIRAMA.<br />
The slogan „Sirafy your <strong>eye</strong>s“ is the<br />
synonym <strong>for</strong> treatment with the nanosecond<br />
laser. „Sirafy“ has its root word<br />
in the first part of the name [SIRA]MA<br />
and becomes therewith an action.<br />
„Sirafy your <strong>eye</strong>s“ invites doctors and<br />
patients to decide <strong>for</strong> the innovative<br />
nanosecond <strong>tech</strong>nology. The slogan<br />
creates an association with the trademark<br />
claim „Trust your <strong>eye</strong>s“, therewith<br />
manifesting the origin at a linguistic<br />
level and accelerating the learning<br />
process.<br />
14th <strong>SCHWIND</strong> User Meeting<br />
17.-20.01.2013, Telfs, Austria<br />
Additionally, <strong>SCHWIND</strong> Dual Per<strong>for</strong>mance,<br />
the device combination of the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA and the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
AMARIS, was also presented at the<br />
ESCRS Congress. The high-per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />
package of nanosecond laser<br />
and excimer laser optimises workflow<br />
and offers high treatment com<strong>for</strong>t.<br />
This includes perfectly coordinated<br />
pupil centration, less space requirement<br />
through swiveling laser arms and<br />
patient bed, as well as an attractive,<br />
harmonious design.<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 1 of 12
news<br />
Network Solution <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET<br />
Offering 24/7, central availability of all planning and treatment data<br />
Today, laser clinics are faced with the<br />
challenge of managing ever increasing<br />
amounts of their patients’ treatment<br />
data efficiently and securely.<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET meets this<br />
challenge with its intelligent and<br />
standardised features. This innovative<br />
network solution combines the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>tech</strong>nologies used in each<br />
clinic simply and consistently. It<br />
incorporates with a clinic’s existing<br />
IT infrastructure. All of the clinical<br />
data generated by <strong>SCHWIND</strong>’s diagnostic<br />
equipment and laser systems<br />
is centrally stored and can be called<br />
up and processed at the workstations<br />
via <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET<br />
using the appropriate software. This<br />
improves practice and surgery workflow<br />
efficiency in the medical environment.<br />
The service package also<br />
includes online remote services <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>tech</strong>nical and application support.<br />
Optimised workflows<br />
An example from clinical practice: If<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET is not available,<br />
the medical assistant has to take the<br />
patient’s <strong>eye</strong> measurements on the<br />
diagnostic system and save the data<br />
on an SD card. The SD card and a<br />
print-out of the data are then passed<br />
to the ophthalmic surgeon who examines<br />
the patient, plans the treatment<br />
on the basis of this data, saves<br />
the treatment profile on an SD card<br />
again, imports the data onto the<br />
laser system and then carries out<br />
the treatment. In practices where<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET is used, however,<br />
the medical assistant saves the<br />
patient’s diagnostic measurements<br />
centrally on a file server. The surgeon<br />
downloads these measurements<br />
as required on a panel PC in<br />
order to plan the treatment and<br />
then saves the treatment profile on<br />
the file server. The <strong>eye</strong> laser then<br />
picks up the profile from there <strong>for</strong> the<br />
subsequent treatment of the patient.<br />
In this way, the medical assistant<br />
and surgeon are able to work independently<br />
of each other. Thanks to<br />
Online Remote Services<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET, the time spent<br />
treating each patient can be reduced<br />
by up to 30 minutes.<br />
Network <strong>tech</strong>nology<br />
The centre piece of <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
MEDNET is a file server with two hard<br />
disks and redundant data storage.<br />
This solution gives the user an extremely<br />
high level of reliability in the<br />
event of a hard disk failure. The<br />
planning and treatment data is<br />
stored centrally, giving all panel PCs<br />
in the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> systems access to<br />
the same database on the file server.<br />
The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET Manager<br />
software controls the flow of data<br />
securely, reliably and consistently.<br />
Page 2 of 12 Issue 2/2012
All the user has to do is to click on<br />
“Save”: there is no need to remember<br />
any file paths. All of the files are<br />
then initially stored temporarily on<br />
the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> panel PC in a “Delegate”<br />
folder and are then automati-<br />
MEDNET <strong>for</strong> Optimax Group<br />
Optimax London – Finchley Road<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET has been in use at the Optimax Laser<br />
Eye Surgery Group, Great Britain and Northern Ireland since<br />
the beginning of 2012. Optimax was established there<br />
in 1991 as one of the first private laser clinics and now<br />
operates laser centres at 30 locations from Belfast to<br />
Southampton. <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET is currently in use at four<br />
Optimax laser centres in Birmingham, Leeds, London and<br />
Manchester with the networking of other locations to follow.<br />
The installation of <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET at each location<br />
took only three hours. To ensure that the installations were<br />
carried out smoothly, <strong>SCHWIND</strong> provided Optimax with the<br />
installation requirements, supplied the necessary additions<br />
to the network infrastructure, and Optimax appointed<br />
an internal IT representative to supervise the implementation<br />
of the system at the clinics. The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>tech</strong>nicians<br />
then set up the network, comprising the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
AMARIS laser system, the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRIUS diagnostic<br />
system, a panel PC <strong>for</strong> treatment planning and a central file<br />
server, and ensured that it operated safely and reliably.<br />
cally transferred by the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
MEDNET Manager into the corresponding<br />
product lists on the file server.<br />
The system is easy to operate even<br />
in the event of a network failure: all<br />
the new files are collected in the<br />
“Delegate” folder. When the network<br />
is up and running again, the transfer<br />
is started automatically, dispensing<br />
with the usual manual copying of data<br />
into the network and the susceptibility<br />
to errors this procedure entails.<br />
In addition, a more comprehensive solution was devised<br />
to meet Optimax’s requirement <strong>for</strong> a system capable of<br />
importing and processing treatment data to the clinics’<br />
in-house practice management software. This solution<br />
also enables Optimax to analyse economic factors, such<br />
as the number and types of treatments carried out each<br />
month at a particular location.<br />
Beata Mc Manus, Managing Director of the Optimax Group,<br />
had the following to say about this solution: “Optimax<br />
has always been keen to use up-to-date <strong>tech</strong>nology to<br />
advantage. The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> MEDNET solution enables us<br />
to preserve our good record with security and stability<br />
by using the network to transfer patient data to the laser<br />
rather than using detachable media like SD cards or flash<br />
drives which have the potential to introduce malware.<br />
With <strong>SCHWIND</strong>'s help, we have been using the MEDNET<br />
solution in order to transfer and save the treatment<br />
data with the patients’ medical record. We were very<br />
impressed with the reports and logs on the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
equipment, so that in the future we will be also attaching<br />
the SIRIUS scans and treatment summary to create a complete<br />
medical record. The attention<br />
to detail while maintaining<br />
data integrity and still being able<br />
to fulfil the customer’s requirements<br />
(e.g. in terms of a simple<br />
installation) is something that<br />
has been handled exceptionally<br />
well by the MEDNET solution<br />
and the company in general.” Beata Mc Manus, Optimax<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 3 of 12
news<br />
Clipped PALK with <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS ®<br />
A new repair tool in refracto-therapeutic corneal laser surgery<br />
The newest version of the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
PALK-CAM software module integrates<br />
the innovative option of<br />
Clipped Pachymetry Assisted Laser<br />
Keratectomy (PALK), which offers<br />
successful repair procedures in<br />
patients with complicated corneal<br />
pathologies including irregular<br />
pachymetry and significant higherorder<br />
aberrations (HOAs). The<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> CAM software is used<br />
to generate a pachymetry-guided<br />
ablation profile based on <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
SIRIUS corneal data, and the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS excimer laser is<br />
used to treat the patient.<br />
Thin cornea areas<br />
For the first time, Clipped PALK<br />
allows particularly thin cornea areas<br />
to be excluded from the ablation<br />
planning. Thanks to the detailed<br />
pachymetry data, in the case of a<br />
keratoconus patient, <strong>for</strong> example,<br />
the cornea is ablated uni<strong>for</strong>mly<br />
around the cone, while the cone itself<br />
is not ablated. The cornea thus<br />
achieves an altogether more regular<br />
thickness and thus a more homogeneous<br />
and stable structure. The<br />
goal of every treatment with Clipped<br />
PALK is to achieve the best possible<br />
quality of vision and increase in<br />
visual acuity. Which treatment type<br />
to use among the wide choice from<br />
A B<br />
A) <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRIUS pachymetry in<strong>for</strong>mation with central, minimum and maximum corneal<br />
thickness (409 µm, 390 µm and 661 µm) as well as topography with corneal radius of<br />
44.98 @ 165° and 52.12 @ 75°. B) <strong>SCHWIND</strong> CAM ablation profile with a diameter of 8.95 mm<br />
and a planned central and peripheral residual thickness of 350 µm and 500 µm respectively.<br />
the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> portfolio depends on<br />
the individual case and a detailed<br />
analysis. The use of Clipped PALK<br />
particularly makes sense if the<br />
patient’s pachymetry data show high<br />
inhomogeneity.<br />
Two examples<br />
With the Clipped TransPALK variant,<br />
the epithelium and the stroma are<br />
ablated by the AMARIS laser in a<br />
single step. No instruments touch<br />
the <strong>eye</strong>. In the following two examples,<br />
each <strong>eye</strong> surgeon chose a<br />
refracto-therapeutic treatment with<br />
Clipped TransPALK based on diagnostic<br />
analysis with corneal wavefront<br />
and pachymetric data. In both<br />
cases a bandage lens was inserted<br />
and kept in place until the epithelium<br />
completely regenerated.<br />
Case 1: Clipped Trans-<br />
PALK after intracorneal<br />
ring segment implantation.<br />
Maria Clara Arbelaez,<br />
MD, Muscat Eye Laser Center,<br />
Muscat, Oman.<br />
Ten months after implantation of<br />
an intracorneal ring segment, a<br />
44-year-old male patient showed<br />
uncorrected distance visual acuity<br />
(UDVA) of 20/63 with a manifest<br />
refraction of -3.25 D sphere and<br />
-2.25 D cylinder @ 150° and a best<br />
corrected distance visual acuity<br />
(BCDVA) of 20/40. The expected<br />
refractive result was -0.5 D sphere<br />
and -3.5 D cylinder @ 145°. Corneal<br />
collagen crosslinking was per<strong>for</strong>med<br />
directly after the ablation.<br />
Two months after treatment the<br />
patient achieved UDVA of 20/50.<br />
The BCDVA improved to 20/28<br />
Page 4 of 12 Issue 2/2012
with -2.50D sphere and -4.00D cylinder<br />
@ 155°.<br />
Case 2: Clipped Trans-<br />
PALK due to a complex<br />
epithelial regrowth after<br />
cataract surgery. Detlef<br />
Uthoff, MD, Markus<br />
Pölzl, MD, Eye Clinic<br />
Bellevue, Kiel, Germany.<br />
Six months after a complicated<br />
cataract surgery, a 71-yearold<br />
male patient complained of<br />
increasing impairment of vision such<br />
as ghosting and increasing blur. The<br />
uncorrected distance visual acuity<br />
(UDVA) was 20/400 with a manifest<br />
refraction of +4.75 D sphere and<br />
-6.00 D cylinder @ 85° and the best<br />
corrected distance visual acuity<br />
(BCDVA) was 20/32. Anterior surface<br />
topography showed irregular againstthe-rule<br />
astigmatism and superonasal<br />
steepening – coinciding with the<br />
cataract incision. Corneal wavefront<br />
analysis at 6.0 mm exposed significant<br />
higher-order aberrations. The<br />
corneal thickness profile showed to<br />
be significantly thicker than normal<br />
with a central value of 581 µm. It was<br />
surrounded by an annulus of asymmetric<br />
thickening matching the irregularities<br />
seen on topography. The<br />
expected refractive result was +1.0 D<br />
sphere and -1.75D cylinder @ 49°.<br />
Immediately after completing ablation<br />
with a 9.5 mm optical zone,<br />
cooled BSS (~+4°C) was irrigated<br />
A B<br />
C D<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRIUS in<strong>for</strong>mation: A) Topography with irregular, superior steepening. B) Pachymetry<br />
with central, minimum and maximum corneal thickness (581 µm, 574 µm, and 849 µm).<br />
C) Wavefront with RMS HO 2.25 µm as well as D) the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> CAM ablation profile with a<br />
diameter of 9.50 mm with a planned central and peripheral residual thickness of 523 µm<br />
and 746 µm respectively.<br />
and MMC was applied <strong>for</strong> 35 seconds.<br />
20 days after the procedure, the<br />
patient showed a UDVA of 20/25. The<br />
BCDVA with -0.50D sphere and 0.50D<br />
cylinder @ 40° improved to 20/22.<br />
No haze was seen during slit lamp<br />
examination.<br />
Summary: The goal of both treatments<br />
was to achieve the best possible<br />
compromise between a refractive<br />
correction and a topographic and<br />
pachymetric regularisation. The post-<br />
operative topographic evaluations<br />
showed distinctive smoothing of the<br />
corneal surface. This conclusion was<br />
supported by wavefront in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
with significantly reduced higherorder<br />
aberrations. The postoperative<br />
corneal thickness profile confirmed<br />
the precision of the laser ablation<br />
with Clipped PALK and was excellently<br />
consistent with the pattern<br />
of the theoretically planned ablation.<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 5 of 12
news<br />
Contact <strong>for</strong> all Applicative Questions<br />
Customer Support assists users with comprehensive know-how<br />
The applicative possibilities <strong>for</strong> users in<br />
refractive laser surgery are becoming<br />
increasingly complex as <strong>tech</strong>nical<br />
innovations develop more quickly.<br />
Sustained customer support after the<br />
sale of a laser system has a very<br />
high priority at <strong>SCHWIND</strong>. There<strong>for</strong>e<br />
the company invests in a special<br />
department that provides continuous,<br />
individual and prompt support <strong>for</strong><br />
the refractive surgeons and their<br />
applicative concerns. The employees<br />
of the Customer Support Department<br />
are not only experts on all <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
<strong>tech</strong>nologies; they are also very familiar<br />
with the scientific world of refractive<br />
and therapeutic corneal surgery.<br />
User services offered by the Customer<br />
Support Department include:<br />
■ Comprehensive product training<br />
on-location. Duration: typically<br />
three to five days - depending<br />
on the individual requirements of<br />
a clinic. Assistants also receive<br />
full instruction on the diagnostic<br />
devices.<br />
■ Product training in the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
Demo Centre in Kleinostheim,<br />
Germany<br />
■ Applicative support and consultation<br />
via telephone hotline and<br />
email.<br />
■ Support and consultation during<br />
international congresses.<br />
Bastian Bratenstein, Customer Support Manager (left) and Thomas Magnago, Head of Customer<br />
Support Department, analyse a diagnostic measurement.<br />
Massimo Camellin, MD, Italy<br />
I have been per<strong>for</strong>ming surgery with<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>tech</strong>nologies since 2001,<br />
beginning with the ESIRIS. I have been<br />
using the AMARIS since 2008. I always<br />
had great results with the ESIRIS, but<br />
the AMARIS provides me with many<br />
additional options <strong>for</strong> per<strong>for</strong>mance of<br />
special procedures. Among these is,<br />
<strong>for</strong> example, customised treatment<br />
of vision problems following Radial<br />
Keratotomy, or combination of the<br />
excimer laser treatment with corneal<br />
cross-linking.<br />
Aside from the extraordinary and<br />
excellent <strong>tech</strong>nological per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />
of the laser system, I strongly rely on<br />
the flexibility and the high level of professional<br />
knowledge of the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
Application Department. Whatever I<br />
ask about or wish <strong>for</strong>, I receive prompt<br />
support every time. The Customer<br />
Support experts are always prepared<br />
Page 6 of 12 Issue 2/2012
to visit me in my clinic and to work with<br />
me on special cases or problems. It is<br />
the combination of state-of-the-art<br />
<strong>tech</strong>nology and a perfect human relationship<br />
that satisfies me and makes<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> a special company <strong>for</strong> me.<br />
Erika Eskina, MD, Russia<br />
The ‘Sphere’ Eye Laser Surgery Clinic<br />
in Moscow, established in 1996, was<br />
at that time one of the first clinics<br />
in Russia to develop an individual<br />
approach to the treatment of <strong>eye</strong><br />
diseases. We started working with<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>tech</strong>nologies in 2006 – first<br />
with the ESIRIS laser and the Carriazo-<br />
Pendular microkeratome, and since<br />
the beginning of 2012 with the AMARIS.<br />
As “Sphere” serves as a reference<br />
clinic in Russia, contact with the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> Customer Department<br />
occurs on a fairly regular basis,<br />
either through exchange of emails or<br />
through personal visits. In my work,<br />
not only as a practitioner, but also<br />
as a scientist and professor, I need<br />
to be able to rely on my partners.<br />
I am happy to say that in all aspects,<br />
whether it is practical support, support<br />
<strong>for</strong> publications or support via email,<br />
I always receive fast and professional<br />
assistance whenever needed. The contact<br />
persons are personable and reliable,<br />
and I’m looking <strong>for</strong>ward now to<br />
the future, starting as the first clinic<br />
in Russia to per<strong>for</strong>m treatment of<br />
presbyopia with the AMARIS.<br />
Gerold Fiedler, MD, Germany<br />
„In our very long business relationship<br />
you doubtlessly rather know me as<br />
a critical user. Today I would like to<br />
take the opportunity to extend my<br />
special thanks to your Customer<br />
Support Department, in this case<br />
especially to Mr. Tobias Ewering.<br />
Although I have been intensively<br />
engaged in refractive surgery <strong>for</strong> 20<br />
years, I have come to rely on the<br />
profound <strong>tech</strong>nical knowledge of your<br />
experienced application specialists to<br />
supplement my clinical experience.<br />
This service, which is also surely<br />
cost-intensive, is not to be taken <strong>for</strong><br />
granted in your branch, which I know<br />
from less than pleasant experiences<br />
with major corporations. Even after<br />
the sale of a laser system not to be<br />
<strong>for</strong>gotten is such a strong advantage<br />
in the area of referral marketing that<br />
glossy brochures appear really weak<br />
in comparison. Your current success,<br />
<strong>for</strong> example, in the Far East, is certainly<br />
also due to the quality of your<br />
products.<br />
The average user, however, typically<br />
has only one laser system and cannot<br />
compare his own experience with<br />
others. But the professional, reliable<br />
and intensive support in problem cases<br />
gives us doctors peace of mind and<br />
further leverages word of mouth and<br />
recommendation marketing to new<br />
opinion leaders. I write these lines<br />
not only as thank-you <strong>for</strong> outstanding<br />
service, but also as an argument<br />
against corporations, who rather invest<br />
in cost-intensive turbo commercial<br />
campaigns instead of in continuous<br />
customer service. Having said this,<br />
I look <strong>for</strong>ward to continued successful<br />
cooperation.”<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>-<strong>solutions</strong><br />
Customer Support Department<br />
Hotline: +49 6027 508 333<br />
email: apm@<strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>.net<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 7 of 12
news<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> Events at the ASCRS and DOC<br />
PresbyMAX Seminar at the DOC<br />
On the occasion of this year’s DOC<br />
congress in Nuremberg, Germany,<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> hosted a seminar on<br />
PresbyMAX µ-Monovision in cooperation<br />
with the Bellevue Eye Clinic, Kiel.<br />
25 German-speaking refractive surgeons<br />
were brought up-to-date on the<br />
newest <strong>tech</strong>nology in presbyopia treatment<br />
with <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS laser<br />
systems. Moderated by Detlef Uthoff,<br />
MD, Eye Clinic Bellevue, detailed in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
on new methods and current<br />
clinical results with PresbyMAX were<br />
key parts of the programme. Furthermore,<br />
treated patients reported on<br />
their expectations and experiences.<br />
Among these was refractive surgeon<br />
Michael Stade, MD, who successfully<br />
underwent treatment and also uses<br />
the new <strong>tech</strong>nology in his patients.<br />
The two-our practice-oriented seminar,<br />
where topics and questions of<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> Social Dinner at the ASCRS Congress 2012<br />
PresbyMAX µ-Monovision Seminar at the DOC Congress 2012<br />
the participants were lively discussed,<br />
received great response.<br />
Social Dinner at the ASCRS<br />
On the occasion of this year’s ASCRS<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> held a social dinner in<br />
Gibson’s Bar & Steak House in Chi-<br />
cago. More than 180 guests, primarily<br />
from Latin and South America, met<br />
<strong>for</strong> dialogue and experience exchange.<br />
Of particular interest were three presentations<br />
held by <strong>SCHWIND</strong> users.<br />
Detlef Holland, MD, Germany, presented<br />
a lecture on the new<br />
PresbyMAX µ-Monovision option, its<br />
advantages as well as the first clinical<br />
results. Luis Izquierdo Jr., MD,<br />
Peru, reported on his experiences<br />
with the AMARIS 750S laser system<br />
regarding cyclotorsion, centration, offset<br />
as well as high astigmatism.<br />
Jerry Tan, MD, Singapore, highlighted<br />
aspects as <strong>for</strong> example PTK,<br />
TransPRK, 6D Eye Tracking or Corneal<br />
Wavefront, which make <strong>for</strong> him the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS 750S the optimal<br />
solution <strong>for</strong> many different uses, cases<br />
and clinical challenges.<br />
Page 8 of 12 Issue 2/2012
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> CXL-365 Vario System<br />
Corneal collagen cross-linking with <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS ® laser systems ®<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> is consistently expanding<br />
its competence in therapeutic corneal<br />
surgery. The company is the first and<br />
only manufacturer of excimer laser<br />
systems to offer the integrated<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> CXL-365 vario system <strong>for</strong><br />
the so-called corneal collagen crosslinking<br />
(CXL). CXL using ultraviolet A<br />
(UVA) light and riboflavin (vitamin B2)<br />
was introduced as a clinical application<br />
to stabilise the cornea by inducing<br />
cross-links within and between collagen<br />
fibres.<br />
Three power levels<br />
The <strong>SCHWIND</strong> CXL-365 vario system is<br />
equipped with three power levels of 3,<br />
9, and 18 mW/cm2 . The highest power<br />
level enables a cross-linking within five<br />
minutes. To protect the limbal stem<br />
cells and to focus the beam on the<br />
clear cornea the irradiation diameter<br />
can be variably adjusted from 7 mm<br />
to 11.3 mm on the patient’s <strong>eye</strong>. The<br />
CXL-365 comes with a high per<strong>for</strong>mance<br />
diode and special optics which<br />
ensure homogeneous illumination and<br />
constant irradiation intensity over the<br />
entire corneal surface. Thus hot spots<br />
are avoided and the endothelium is<br />
sufficiently protected. The <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
CXL-365 vario system is installed<br />
under the laser arm and can be<br />
moved back and <strong>for</strong>th. It can also<br />
be swivelled by 90°. In the parking<br />
position, the aperture is positioned<br />
above the external sensor. The energy<br />
check is easy to per<strong>for</strong>m prior to<br />
treatment. A small display shows<br />
the remaining treatment time. For<br />
treatment the system is moved to the<br />
left and swivelled by 90°.<br />
Easy positioning<br />
The treatment planes of the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
AMARIS laser systems and the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> CXL-365 vario are identical.<br />
The precise x/y adjustment of the<br />
patient bed ensures easy patient<br />
positioning. All laser systems in the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS product range can<br />
be optionally equipped with the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> CXL-365 vario system.<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 9 of 12
news<br />
1,000th <strong>SCHWIND</strong> Eye Laser Installed<br />
In spring 2012, <strong>SCHWIND</strong> has installed<br />
the thousandth laser system <strong>for</strong><br />
the treatment of visual defects. “In<br />
reaching the number one thousand,<br />
we have achieved yet another milestone<br />
in the history of our company.<br />
This is a great motivation <strong>for</strong> us<br />
to continue to expand our strong<br />
market position,” commented CEO Rolf<br />
Schwind. The very first <strong>SCHWIND</strong> laser<br />
was delivered to South Korea in 1992.<br />
Today, the sixth generation of lasers<br />
enjoys high popularity across the<br />
globe: laser systems from the<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS product range have<br />
been installed worldwide, with the<br />
exception of the USA. In the business<br />
year 2011/2012 alone, over 100 lasers<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> milestones 2002 to 2012<br />
were sold. Depending on the selected<br />
features, a clinic or <strong>eye</strong> surgeon can<br />
invest up to € 500,000 in the premium<br />
segment lasers of the <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
AMARIS product range and the corresponding<br />
diagnostic systems.<br />
The Bavarian-based, family-owned<br />
company sets great store by a continuous<br />
quality offensive in a market<br />
characterised by multinational, predominantly<br />
listed providers. And not<br />
without success: according to a recent<br />
survey conducted by the market<br />
researching company <strong>Market</strong> Scope,<br />
excluding the US market, <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
achieved a 34% global market share<br />
in laser sales in 2011. According to<br />
estimates by <strong>Market</strong> Scope, there are<br />
currently approximately 4,000 excimer<br />
lasers from various manufacturers in<br />
operation <strong>for</strong> the correction of visual<br />
defects in Asia, Australia, Europe,<br />
Central and Latin America.<br />
A pioneer in refractive surgery<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>-<strong>solutions</strong> is one<br />
of the pioneers of refractive surgery.<br />
Founded in 1958 and having started<br />
out as a complete provider <strong>for</strong> ophthalmologists,<br />
the 1990s saw the company<br />
start up its second sector: the development,<br />
production and sale of <strong>eye</strong> lasers<br />
<strong>for</strong> correcting visual defects. The first<br />
<strong>eye</strong> surgery with the first laser generation<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> KERATOM was per-<br />
Page 10 of 12 Issue 2/2012
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> KERATOM <strong>SCHWIND</strong> KERATOM MULTISCAN<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> ESIRIS <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS<br />
<strong>for</strong>med in 1992. In 1994, the company<br />
was the first supplier in the world<br />
to introduce a passive <strong>eye</strong>-tracking<br />
system as a standard feature. Since<br />
1999, <strong>SCHWIND</strong> has been focusing<br />
its complete expertise and all of its<br />
resources on laser <strong>eye</strong> surgery.<br />
Milestones include the development<br />
of unique corneal wavefront method<br />
which can be used to detect and<br />
smooth out smallest irregularities of<br />
the cornea. With the introduction<br />
of corneal thickness measurements<br />
(online pachymetry) as a decisive<br />
safety factor in laser treatment,<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> has made headlines as<br />
a pioneer. The ‘TotalTech Laser’<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS has been a <strong>tech</strong>nology<br />
leader since its introduction in<br />
2007 and has impressed as a continuous<br />
pacesetter. 2009 heralded<br />
the integration of the world’s first<br />
six-dimensional <strong>eye</strong> tracking system,<br />
which actively compensates all possible<br />
<strong>eye</strong> movements. 2010 saw the<br />
market launch of the flagship<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS 750S, which reduces<br />
the treatment to just 1.5 seconds<br />
per dioptre at a pulse frequency of<br />
750 Hertz. Since the beginning of 2012,<br />
the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> AMARIS product range<br />
has been offering the latest <strong>tech</strong>nology<br />
<strong>for</strong> the treatment of presbyopia with<br />
the new PresbyMAX ® µ-Monovision<br />
method. The procedure ensures excellent<br />
visual acuity at all distances and<br />
provides quick and high patient satisfaction.<br />
Last but not least, the nanosecond<br />
laser <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA was<br />
launched in the market on occasion of<br />
the ESCRS 2012.<br />
A new high-<strong>tech</strong> laser from <strong>SCHWIND</strong><br />
is the fruit of over three years’ research<br />
and development per<strong>for</strong>med in order<br />
to make the tailor-made hardware with<br />
highly-developed software programmes<br />
ready <strong>for</strong> its market launch.<br />
Issue 2/2012 Page 11 of 12
Nomination Distinction <strong>for</strong> <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA ®<br />
The new <strong>SCHWIND</strong> SIRAMA (<strong>for</strong>mer<br />
SmartTech Laser) was recently nominated<br />
<strong>for</strong> the Berthold Leibinger<br />
Innovationspreis 2012. The jurors<br />
named the innovative laser system,<br />
which creates LASIK flaps on the basis<br />
of nanosecond <strong>tech</strong>nology, as prizedeserving<br />
development work in applied<br />
laser <strong>tech</strong>nology.<br />
The Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis<br />
honors scientists and developers<br />
who make advancements in the field<br />
of laser <strong>tech</strong>nology. Since 2000, the<br />
Berthold Leibinger Stiftung has presented<br />
the award every two years <strong>for</strong><br />
excellent research and development<br />
In June the Muscat Eye Laser Center<br />
celebrated ten years of <strong>eye</strong> care excellence.<br />
Founded in 2002, it has developed<br />
into Oman's largest and best<br />
established <strong>eye</strong>-care services provider<br />
in the private sector and is one of the<br />
most renowned addresses <strong>for</strong> refractive<br />
and therapeutic corneal surgery<br />
in the gulf region. The specialist team<br />
is led by Maria Clara Arbelaez, MD,<br />
a renowned refractive surgeon from<br />
Colombia with over 20 years of experience<br />
in Latin America, the Caribbean<br />
and the Middle East. She has more<br />
than 50.000 successful <strong>eye</strong> surgeries<br />
to her credit. Coinciding with the laser<br />
Prof. Dr. Alfred Vogel, Director Institute of Biomedical Optics, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Berthold Leibinger,<br />
founder of the Berthold Leibinger Stiftung, and Rolf Schwind, <strong>SCHWIND</strong> CEO, at the presentation<br />
of the nomination distinction.<br />
work on the application or generation<br />
of laser light. It is one of the highest<br />
Ten Years Muscat Eye Laser Center<br />
center’s jubilee is the fact that Dr.<br />
Arbelaez has also used <strong>tech</strong>nologies<br />
Imprint<br />
<strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>-<strong>solutions</strong> GmbH & Co. KG · Mainparkstrasse 6-10 · D-63801 Kleinostheim, Germany<br />
fon: +49 (0) 60 27 – 5 08-0 · email: info@<strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>.net · www.<strong>eye</strong>-<strong>tech</strong>-<strong>solutions</strong>.com<br />
remunerated international innovation<br />
prizes <strong>for</strong> laser <strong>tech</strong>nology.<br />
Rolf Schwind, CEO <strong>SCHWIND</strong>, congratulates Maria Clara Arbelaez, MD, Medical Director, and<br />
Sameer Al Awam, CEO of the Muscat Eye Laser Center, <strong>for</strong> their ten-year anniversary.<br />
from <strong>SCHWIND</strong> <strong>for</strong> ten years, starting<br />
in 2002 with the <strong>SCHWIND</strong> ESIRIS.<br />
Page 12 of 12 Issue 2/2012