The new Oculus Pentacam AXL has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. Oculus says the Pentacam AXL represents the systematic further development of the successful and time-proven Pentacam HR, providing anterior segment tomography and optical biometry—all in one device and with a single measuring operation.

The intuitive and network-compatible IOL calculation software offers standard formulas, ray-tracing formulas and formulas for treated corneas already integrated into the IOL calculator. The calculation of toric intraocular lenses is based on the total corneal refractive power, thus taking the influence of the posterior corneal surface into account. A comprehensive IOL database with IOL constants for the Pentacam AXL is also integrated.

Also the Pentacam AXL offers a well-targeted screening process, Fast Screening Report, Belin/Ambrósio Enhanced Ectasia Display (early detection of corneal ectasia) and densitometric evaluation (Corneal Optical Densitometry & PNS) for every cataract patient. Whether aspherical, toric or multifocal, with the Cataract Pre-OP display, the premium IOL can be selected in four steps.

The IOL Constants Optimization from Prof. Wolfgang Haigis permits a continuous enhancement of the results. Surgical data and post-refractive examination findings are secured with just a few clicks. For information, visit pentacamaxl.com.


Eye Eco Dry-Eye Mask
If your meibomian gland dysfunction dry-eye patients have trouble complying with home remedies such as warm washcloths, Eye Eco may have a solution.

The company has developed the Dry Eye Relief Mask, or DERM, a compress mask that can be used to apply moist heat or cold to help relieve symptoms. To use the DERM to apply heat, the patient heats the mask in the microwave for 20 seconds to provide four to six minutes of moist-heat treatment. The company says the treatment time can be extended by three minutes by placing a moistened cotton liner over the mask before heating. Once applied, the mask helps melt the meibum in the glands while hydrating and relaxing the skin of the lids. Eye Eco notes that the use of liners also means that doctors can use the DERM in their offices to complement their in-office dry-eye treatments. For information, call 1 (888) 730-7999 or visit eyeeco.com.


Eye Check Adds Oculoplastics
For the oculoplastics surgeon who wants a more efficient way to make preop measurements in the exam room, the oculoplastics module add-on to the Volk Eye Check device may be useful.

The Eye Check is a handheld digital imager that records external ocular measurements to speed record keeping and diagnosis, and now it can take measurements germane to the world of oculoplastics, as well. The module can analyze 26 data points in under a minute, including margin reflex distance 1 and 2, the palpebral aperture, the aperture at the limbus, pupil diameter and eccentricity and iris diameter.

The company says a grid scale provides a convenient way to measure and compare landmarks such as brow position, and says the touch-screen interface is easy to navigate. It adds that objective documentation of such characteristics is useful for securing insurance reimbursement, as well as providing “before and after” evidence for patients and clinicians. The device’s real-time, accurate, objective results eliminate interclinician variability and enable quick decision making, Volk says. When an exam is complete, the system can generate a single-page report on the patient which includes a side-by-side diagram and a list of measured values. The report can also be exported over a Wi-Fi connection to attach it to a medical record. For information, call 1 (800) 345-8655 or visit volk.com.


Rhein’s New Incision Dissector
Rhein Medical announces the new Friedman Double-Ended Femto Incision Dissector, developed in coordination with Neil Friedman, MD.

The dissector has:

 • an angled, tapered end that is thin, with a smooth tip to enable easy and gentle dissection of all corneal incisions without the risk of creating false planes or damaging intact tissue. It is used vertically to open plane one of corneal incisions and then used horizontally to open planes two and three of incisions.

• a 90-degree paddle end, designed to accurately find and gently open plane two of clear corneal cataract incisions by placing the paddle parallel to the incision plane one (i.e., hold the handle of instrument vertically so paddle is parallel to incision), pushing the paddle down into the incision to the base of plane one and then rotating the paddle 90 degrees into plane two of the incision by twirling the handle of the instrument between the fingers. It can also be used vertically to open plane one of corneal incisions. For information, contact Rhein Medical at (727) 209-2244.


Study Supports NovaTears for Evaporative Dry Eye
NovaTears, the first commercially available topical eye drop from Novaliq GmbH for the treatment of evaporative dry-eye disease, was found to significantly improve four of five measures associated with evaporative DED, new research shows. The findings were published recently in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Thirty patients with evaporative DED received NovaTears (perfluorohexyloctane F6H8) during a prospective, multicenter, observational, six-week study. Subjects applied one drop of NovaTears to both eyes four times daily and returned six weeks later for follow-up. Parameters assessed included best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, Schirmer I test, tear fluid, tear-film breakup time, corneal staining, meibum secretion and OSDI. Twenty-five subjects completed the study per protocol, of which 24 were female, and one was male. After six weeks of use, NovaTears treatment led to a significant reduction of corneal staining, and a significant increase of Schirmer I and TFBUT. In addition, OSDI score dropped significantly from a mean of 55 (±23) to 34 (±22.4). Visual acuity and IOP did not change.

The significant decrease in corneal staining can be seen in the shift of the number of patients diagnosed with Grade 1 or Grade 2 at baseline toward Grade 0 at follow up. At baseline, 11 eyes were Grade 0, 29 were Grade 1, and eight were Grade 2. At the end of the study, 37 eyes were Grade 0, 10 were Grade 1, and one eye was Grade 2. Tear secretion and tear-film stability improved significantly over the study period as can be seen in the increase in Schirmer I and the TFBUT. Schirmer I test showed increases from 10.5 ±4.1 mm/five minutes in the right eye to 16.6 ±9.8 mm/five minutes (p=0.0040), and in the left eye from 10.2 ±4.2 mm/five minutes to 15.9 ±9.7 mm/five minutes (p=0.0013). TFBUT increased from 6.0 ±2.5s in the right eye to 8.8 ±4.9s (p=0.0026), and in the left eye from 5.8 ±2.6s to 9.6 ±5.9s (p=0.0006).

Patient meibum was examined at both baseline and follow up visit, and improved in some cases. In seven cases, no expressible meibum was reported at study conclusion. Overall safety and tolerability was good; five adverse events were reported in the study, all of mild to moderate intensity. The study was supported by Novaliq GmbH.To view the study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281167218_Semifluorinated_Alkane_Eye_Drops_for_Treatment_of _Dry_Eye_DiseaseA_Prospective_Multicenter_Noninterventional_Study.

For information, visit novaliq.com, or call (813) 323-1438.  REVIEW