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Issue link: https://daily.eyeworld.org/i/124062
54 EW SHOW DAILY Sunday, April 21, 2013 Meeting Reporter Live surgery highlights latest refractive cataract technologies by Vanessa Caceres EyeWorld Contributing writer Panelists discuss two live surgeries performed by Kerry K. Assil, MD. A live surgery presentation on Friday night featured the latest refractive cataract technologies, including the Tecnis Toric IOL (Abbott Medical Optics, AMO, Santa Ana, Calif.) that was just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The program, "High Definition Live Surgery: Refractive Cataract Surgery With Today's Latest Technologies" was held at the Nob Hill Masonic Center and featured a panel discussion and two live surgeries performed by Kerry K. Assil, MD, Beverly Hills, Calif. Many surgeons are excited that the Tecnis Toric IOL is now available, said Farrell C. "Toby" Tyson, MD, Cape Coral, Fla. "This IOL is filling a need that all of us have wanted," he said, noting that the lens helps with spherical asphericity and is easier to maintain in the position in which it is placed in the eye. Dr. Tyson reported statistics that found nine out of 10 patients in a study with the Tecnis Toric IOL had a visual acuity of 20/32 or better, and 94% had less than 1 D of residual refractive cylinder. Ninety-seven percent of patients said they would choose to have the Tecnis implanted again. Some surgeons have been hesitant to perform refractive cataract surgery for a variety of reasons, including patients' sometimes daunting expectations, said Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, New York. However, use of the toric IOL is a great place to start if you are new to refractive cataract surgery, he thinks. Although state-of-the-art technology such as an intraoperative aberrometer can enhance your toric IOL surgery, you can still reach target endpoints without technological bells and whistles, said Ehsan Sadri, MD, Newport Beach, Calif. That said, solid biometry on the front end is key for great outcomes on the back end, Dr. Tyson added. Another consideration with toric IOLs is the number of patients who come into a practice not planning to look for a refractive solution to their astigmatism, said David F. Chang, MD, Los Altos, Calif. Dr. Chang will often explain the optical benefit of correction for these patients and, when appropriate, offer a toric IOL and minimonovision. One patient treated by Dr. Assil during the live surgery portion of the program was a 67-year-old male who had post-myopic LASIK about 12 years previously. He had cataracts in both eyes, one of which had already been treated. Dr. Assil was focused on treating 1.50 D of cylinder in the other eye. The second patient was a 64-year-old female with cataracts in both eyes and 1.25 D of cylinder in the eye that was treated Friday evening. Dr. Assil also used femtosecond phacoemulsification technology to perform a capsulorhexis in the patient's eye. EW Editors' note: This event was sponsored by AMO.