Carl Zeiss Meditec Delivers Key Technological Advances In Optical Coherence Tomography

Carl Zeiss Meditec, a leader in ophthalmic devices and surgical systems, announced today that two new optical coherence tomography (OCT) applications will be available for the first time at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) meeting in Chicago, IL at booth 2028. With advanced algorithms available for Cirrus™ HD-OCT and Stratus™ OCT, ophthalmologists now have the most advanced imaging capabilities available for assessing and managing glaucoma and diseases of the retina.

The Cirrus HD-OCT, the latest addition to the Zeiss OCT family of products, provides the most detailed scan patterns and layer maps available for identifying retinal and glaucoma disease characteristics, and monitoring disease progression. Nearly 1000 Cirrus HD-OCT units have been sold worldwide since its introduction last November. It is the first in its category to deliver high-definition 3D maps to spectral domain technology.

“The Cirrus HD-OCT 3-D images bring us a new level of insight into the detailed structure of the retina,” said Peter K. Kaiser, MD, Director of the Clinical Research Center, Cole Eye Institute in Cleveland. “Combined with the proprietary image analysis algorithms developed by the veteran Zeiss team, the Cirrus gives us new volumetric data that expands our ability to interpret the three dimensional images in a highly reproducible, quantitative fashion.”

For the first time, Stratus OCT features both Advanced Serial Analysis and Guided Progression Analysis™ (GPA) software for objective measurement and subjective clinical evaluation in the detection of glaucoma and retinal diseases. Advanced Serial Analysis plots RNFL thickness over time and reports statistically significant change, enabling practitioners to project future vision loss and make timely treatment decisions.

Stratus OCT is the standard of care system for comprehensive retinal scanning. With nearly 9,000 Stratus OCT units in use worldwide, more than 37,000 scans performed each year and backed by over 100 U.S. clinical studies for retinal disease, the Stratus OCT is the most widely adopted and researched OCT system in the world.

“From pioneering the first OCT platform nearly a decade ago to launching the newest Cirrus HD-OCT system late last year, Zeiss continues its tradition of leadership with spectral domain technology,” said Jim Taylor, Carl Zeiss Meditec president and chief executive officer. “The new features for the Cirrus and Status OCT systems provide efficiencies that allow physicians to more easily gather and interpret detailed disease information while streamlining workflow processes that impact the entire practice. Our ultimate goal is to enable our customers to provide the best quality of care possible to their patients.”

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method that uses light to scan the retina, and can be performed on undilated pupils as small as 3 mm in diameter. It provides detailed, real-time information about the structure of the living eye available to the clinician. Using light to scan the retina and optic disc, this pioneering technology brought new clinical tools for the diagnosis and management of retinal disease and glaucoma.

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 ailments: vision defects (refraction), cataract, glaucoma and retinal disorders. The company’s system solutions are employed in all phases of the disease management, from diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. Carl Zeiss Meditec has always applied its technological expertise to product innovations. These 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. The product portfolio in ophthalmic surgery is rounded off by intraocular lenses and consumables.

In the field of neuro and ENT surgery, Carl Zeiss Meditec is the world’s leading provider of surgical microscopes and microsurgical visualization solutions for a very broad range of applications, such as tumor and vascular surgery in the head region and/or spinal surgery. The most recent example of the innovative performance in the area of microsurgery is the OPMI Pentero® visualization system, which allows efficient and ergonomic patient treatment. Carl Zeiss Meditec will systematically expand its product range in this area and become a solution provider in neuro and ENT surgery as well.

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 Surgical GmbH, Carl Zeiss Meditec Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, *Acri.Tec AG and Carl Zeiss Medical Software GmbH), the USA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin), in Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec Co., Ltd., Tokyo), Spain (Carl Zeiss Meditec Iberia S.A., Madrid) and France (Carl Zeiss Meditec S.A.S., La Rochelle, and Carl Zeiss Meditec France SAS, Le Pecq).

Carl Zeiss Meditec