ZEISS Medical Technology’s MEL 90 excimer laser system for refractive surgery received FDA approval for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and mixed astigmatism, a condition that necessitates both hyperopic and myopic correction.
The MEL 90 excimer laser is designed to deliver precise and efficient corneal reshaping through excimer laser technology, a type of UV laser routinely used in eye surgery.
In a press release announcing the approval, Zeiss said the laser seamlessly integrates with other ZEISS technologies, enhancing the overall surgical workflow and enabling a fully digitalized approach to refractive surgery.
The MEL 90 integrates into the Zeiss Corneal Refractive Workflow and complements the Zeiss VisuMax 800 with SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) pro software. The VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro was approved by the FDA for treating myopia in January 2024.
ZEISS says MEL 90 complements the VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser with SMILE to “help further broaden a surgeon’s refractive business with improved patient attraction and positive clinical outcomes.”
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With the addition of MEL 90 to its portfolio, ZEISS now offers a comprehensive corneal refractive workflow. The workflow integrates ZEISS’s diagnostic tools such as the ATLAS 9000 Corneal Topography System and the IOLMaster for precise measurement and planning.
The VisuMax femtosecond laser is used for flap creation in LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) or for performing SMILE procedures.
While both LASIK and SMILE are eye surgeries that reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness and astigmatism to improve vision, SMILE is less invasive as it does not involve the creation of a flap and uses a smaller incision than LASIK.
The ZEISS MEL 90 exciser laser ablation completes the corneal refractive workflow by delivering precise corneal reshaping.
MEL 90 simplifies treatment planning through its Triple-A (advanced ablation algorithm), which is a single ablation profile for different sphero-cylindrical (SCA) corrections.
Triple-A ensures superior accuracy, reproducibility and predictability, along with benefits like tissue-conserving ablation. ZEISS says its preloaded functions provide surgeons with optimal support for achieving exceptional treatment outcomes and gentle procedures across standard, high and low levels of ametropia and astigmatism.
ZEISS MEL 90 excimer laser also offers fast ablation speeds, with the ability to intra-operatively ablate 1 diopter in as few as 1.3 seconds when performing LASIK for myopia (at 500 Hz).
It features an active eye tracker with quick responsiveness, “providing a high level of treatment safety with very stable results,” according to ZEISS.
“The increasing global adoption of laser vision correction reflects the advancements and positive impact the technology continues to have on the quality of life for patients,” Magnus Reibenspiess, head of Strategic Business Unit Ophthalmology at ZEISS Medical Technology said in the press release.
“With the integration of the ZEISS MEL 90, surgeons can confidently care for their patients with greater workflow efficiency and performance with enhanced outcomes.”
The advanced features of the ZEISS MEL 90 excimer laser significantly streamline interactions among the surgeon, assisting staff and system technology.
It also has a user-friendly graphic interface to facilitate quick treatments and a touch screen that can be flexibly positioned.
ZEISS is a prominent player in the laser eye surgery market, offering a comprehensive range of advanced refractive laser systems and solutions.
VISUMAX femtosecond lasers and the MEL 90 excimer laser are its flagship products that are designed for various clinical and therapeutic corneal refractive surgery applications.
According to Morningstar, ZEISS currently holds over 30% of the market share in the refractive laser surgery sector, which includes big players like AMO Manufacturing, Alcon and Johnson & Johnson.
The global ophthalmic devices market was valued at approximately $7.92 billion in 2024, with projections by GlobalData indicating it will hit around $9.92 billion by 2033.
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