Podcasts

Summary

Host Dr Ben LaHood welcomes Mr Allon Barsam and Ms Purvi Thomson from OCL Vision in London to discuss their first clinical experiences with the new RayOne Galaxy spiral IOL. They delve into the innovative science and technology behind the lens, which provides a full range of vision with minimal dysphotopsia. They also share insights from their first implantations and discuss the promising early results.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Mr Allon Barsam, laser eye surgeon and OCL Vision founding partner, has a world-recognized reputation for personalized vision correction delivering maximum precision and care for every one of his patients. Based in London, he is one of only a handful of Consultant Surgeons in the UK who are dual fellowship trained in Cornea, Cataract and Laser Vision Correction.

Ms Purvi Thomson is the lead optometrist at OCL Vision with specific training and expertise in working with patients who require vision correction. She also has specialist training as an Optometrist to deal with various eye conditions, such as dry eye disease. Purvi gained her Independent prescribing qualification in 2020 and her Prof Cert in glaucoma in 2022.

Key takeaways:

• Positive patient outcomes: Feedback from the first 10 patients implanted with RayOne Galaxy shows high satisfaction levels, with no reported complications and consistently clear vision during both day and night.
• Effect on trifocal IOLs: Since adopting RayOne Galaxy, Barsam has not used a trifocal lens, believing RayOne Galaxy offers superior outcomes. Thomson adds that their early patient feedback suggests the RayOne Galaxy delivers all the advantages of a trifocal with fewer visual disturbances and a smoother range of vision.
• Ease of implantation: The RayOne Galaxy IOL is easy to implant, fully preloaded, and works efficiently through a 2.2mm incision. Barsam advises surgeons considering the RayOne Galaxy to think of it as a trifocal but “know that it’s much better”, noting that he sees no reason to choose a traditional trifocal lens over this one.
• A-constants: Official guidance on A-constants will soon be available based on expanded data. For initial studies, surgeons were advised to use 118.6, in line with the RayOne standard platform. Barsam’s preliminary data suggests that aiming slightly more positive ensures optimal distance vision.
• Astigmatic patients: Barsam recommends a low threshold for treating astigmatic patients with the RayOne Galaxy Toric, like trifocal lenses.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood Social:

Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram

Dr Ben LaHood | Twitter

Follow Mr Allon Barsam Social:

Mr Allon Barsam | LinkedIn

Mr Allon Barsam | Instagram

Mr Allon Barsam | Twitter

Follow Ms Purvi Thomson Social:

Ms Purvi Thomson | LinkedIn

Ms Purvi Thomson | Instagram

Summary

Professor Graham Barrett is joined by Professor Dan Reinstein and Mr Darshak Patel to discuss the benefits of RayOne EMV for post corneal refractive surgery patients.  They dive into how to match the right IOL to the patient’s corneal profile, and specifically spherical aberration, while stressing the need for comprehensive testing on patients before surgery.

Bios:

Professor Graham Barrett, is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Clinical Professor in the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Professor Barrett has a made an extensive and varied contribution to ophthalmology, both nationally and internationally. He is founder and immediate past President of the AUSCRS. He is the recipient of major international awards and he has developed innovative instruments aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing cataract surgery which are widely used by ophthalmic surgeons, including the Rayner RayOne EMV.

Professor Dan Z. Reinstein, Founder and Medical Director of the London Vision Clinic and part of the EuroEyes Group, is a board-certified ophthalmologist in the US and Canada, with professorships in the UK, New York, and Paris. Dedicated to Refractive Surgery since the 1990s, he has pioneered epithelium mapping and corneal 3D pachymetric imaging with VHF digital ultrasound and OCT. His extensive contributions include over 215 scientific papers, 1,000+ lectures globally, and significant roles in Therapeutic Refractive Surgery and as the Section Editor for the Journal of Refractive Surgery. Reinstein developed PRESBYOND Laser Blended Vision, now a part of the Carl Zeiss Meditec platform, and has been their Lead Refractive Surgery consultant since 2001. He authored a definitive textbook on SMILE, contributed to 44 book chapters, and holds patents for VHF digital ultrasound technology, commercialized as the Insight 100 by ArcScan Inc., which is pivotal for the most accurate ICL sizing. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the Waring Medal (2006), the Kritzinger Award (2013), the ISRS President’s and American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Awards (2020), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from UKISCRS (2023). An accomplished saxophonist, he has maintained a monthly residency at the 606 Club in Chelsea for over 20 years.

Mr Darshak Patel is a highly accomplished ophthalmic surgeon graduating from University College London with a distinction in clinical science in addition to multiple medical school awards and a further distinction in his Masters. He completed his Ophthalmic residency in London followed by 2 years of corneal, cataract and refractive surgery subspecialisation at the Western Eye Hospital and Moorfields.

Key Takeaways:

• Refractive Surgery and Lens Extraction: The discussion focuses on managing patients who have undergone refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) and now require lens extraction, either for cataracts or refractive purposes.
• Spherical Aberration and Lens Selection: Traditionally, negative aspheric lenses were recommended for patients with myopic or hyperopic laser surgery. Today, however, this isn’t a strict rule. There’s an emphasis on customising the lens choice based on the patient’s spherical aberration profile.
• Cataract Surgery after Refractive Surgery: When performing cataract surgery after a patient has had procedures such as Presbyond, the goal is to restore their previous range of vision by accounting for spherical aberration.
• Lens Selection Considerations: The selection of intraocular lenses (IOLs) post-refractive surgery is influenced by factors such as the patient’s spherical aberration, pupil size, and coma. RayOne EMV is one of the few choices if you want to increase the patient’s spherical aberration.
• Need for Comprehensive Measurements: The speakers agree that patients with a history of laser refractive surgery should undergo thorough corneal profile measurements (e.g., topography) before cataract surgery. This includes evaluating spherical aberration and coma, even if it may not always lead to major changes in lens choice.
• Topography as a Standard: The panel stresses that topography is essential in modern cataract surgery, especially for those with prior laser treatment, to avoid complications. Even small levels of astigmatism should be checked through topography to ensure accuracy in biometry.
• Lens Selection Based on Corneal Aberration: Lens selection should be tailored to the individual’s corneal aberrations, particularly spherical aberration. Rather than having a universal lens for post-refractive patients, choices should be made depending on whether there is excessive spherical aberration that needs correction.
• Monovision and Anisometropia: For post-refractive patients, mini monovision or anisometropia is recommended to maximise near and distance vision without excessive reliance on reading glasses. The degree of anisometropia may depend on the individual’s corneal characteristics and depth of field.

Additional Resources:

Follow Prof Graham Barrett on Social:
Prof Graham Barrett | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood| Twitter

Follow Prof Dan Reinstein on Social:
Prof Dan Reinstein | LinkedIn
Prof Dan Reinstein| Instagram

Follow Mr Darshak Patel on Social:
Mr Darshak Patel | LinkedIn

Summary

Professor Graham Barrett is joined by Professor Dan Reinstein and Mr Darshak Patel to discuss the benefits of RayOne EMV for post corneal refractive surgery patients, focusing on the importance of tailored approaches through careful diagnostics and lens selection to reduce the risk of post-operative complications.

Bios:

Professor Graham Barrett, is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Clinical Professor in the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Professor Barrett has a made an extensive and varied contribution to ophthalmology, both nationally and internationally. He is founder and immediate past President of the AUSCRS. He is the recipient of major international awards and he has developed innovative instruments aimed at improving outcomes for patients undergoing cataract surgery which are widely used by ophthalmic surgeons, including the Rayner RayOne EMV.

Professor Dan Z. Reinstein, Founder and Medical Director of the London Vision Clinic and part of the EuroEyes Group, is a board-certified ophthalmologist in the US and Canada, with professorships in the UK, New York, and Paris. Dedicated to Refractive Surgery since the 1990s, he has pioneered epithelium mapping and corneal 3D pachymetric imaging with VHF digital ultrasound and OCT. His extensive contributions include over 215 scientific papers, 1,000+ lectures globally, and significant roles in Therapeutic Refractive Surgery and as the Section Editor for the Journal of Refractive Surgery. Reinstein developed PRESBYOND Laser Blended Vision, now a part of the Carl Zeiss Meditec platform, and has been their Lead Refractive Surgery consultant since 2001. He authored a definitive textbook on SMILE, contributed to 44 book chapters, and holds patents for VHF digital ultrasound technology, commercialized as the Insight 100 by ArcScan Inc., which is pivotal for the most accurate ICL sizing. His achievements have earned him numerous awards, including the Waring Medal (2006), the Kritzinger Award (2013), the ISRS President’s and American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Awards (2020), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from UKISCRS (2023). An accomplished saxophonist, he has maintained a monthly residency at the 606 Club in Chelsea for over 20 years.

Mr Darshak Patel is a highly accomplished ophthalmic surgeon graduating from University College London with a distinction in clinical science in addition to multiple medical school awards and a further distinction in his Masters. He completed his Ophthalmic residency in London followed by 2 years of corneal, cataract and refractive surgery subspecialisation at the Western Eye Hospital and Moorfields.

Key Takeaways:

• Refractive Surgery and Lens Extraction: The discussion focuses on managing patients who have undergone refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) and now require lens extraction, either for cataracts or refractive purposes.
• Spherical Aberration and Lens Selection: Traditionally, negative aspheric lenses were recommended for patients with myopic or hyperopic laser surgery. Today, however, this isn’t a strict rule. There’s an emphasis on customising the lens choice based on the patient’s spherical aberration profile.
• Cataract Surgery after Refractive Surgery: When performing cataract surgery after a patient has had procedures such as Presbyond, the goal is to restore their previous range of vision by accounting for spherical aberration.
• Lens Selection Considerations: The selection of intraocular lenses (IOLs) post-refractive surgery is influenced by factors such as the patient’s spherical aberration, pupil size, and coma. RayOne EMV is one of the few choices if you want to increase the patient’s spherical aberration.
• Need for Comprehensive Measurements: The speakers agree that patients with a history of laser refractive surgery should undergo thorough corneal profile measurements (e.g., topography) before cataract surgery. This includes evaluating spherical aberration and coma, even if it may not always lead to major changes in lens choice.
• Topography as a Standard: The panel stresses that topography is essential in modern cataract surgery, especially for those with prior laser treatment, to avoid complications. Even small levels of astigmatism should be checked through topography to ensure accuracy in biometry.
• Lens Selection Based on Corneal Aberration: Lens selection should be tailored to the individual’s corneal aberrations, particularly spherical aberration. Rather than having a universal lens for post-refractive patients, choices should be made depending on whether there is excessive spherical aberration that needs correction.
• Monovision and Anisometropia: For post-refractive patients, mini monovision or anisometropia is recommended to maximise near and distance vision without excessive reliance on reading glasses. The degree of anisometropia may depend on the individual’s corneal characteristics and depth of field.

Additional Resources:

Follow Prof Graham Barrett on Social:
Prof Graham Barrett | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood| Twitter

Follow Prof Dan Reinstein on Social:
Prof Dan Reinstein | LinkedIn
Prof Dan Reinstein| Instagram

Follow Mr Darshak Patel on Social:
Mr Darshak Patel | LinkedIn

Join Dr Ben LaHood and Dr Blake Williamson as they delve into RayOne EMV and its successful integration into Dr Williamson’s US practice. Learn why Dr Williamson chooses this lens, how it enhances patient satisfaction, and the innovative billing strategies he employs. Whether you’re a US surgeon looking to optimize your financial strategy or interested in modern patient care solutions, this episode provides valuable insights into the benefits and outcomes of using RayOne EMV. Discover how this lens stands out in a busy practice and why it’s a strong choice for today’s patients.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Dr Blake Williamson is the president and managing partner of Williamson Eye Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a thought leader and lecturer in the fields of advanced cataract surgery, laser vison correction, and micro invasive glaucoma surgery.
Dr Williamson performed the most phaco cataract surgeries in the history of the Tulane residency program, and was one of the first resident physicians from the US to perform all bladeless femtosecond laser cataract surgery.

Dr Williamson’s key takeaways on incorporating RayOne EMV in your US practice:

• Packaging: Although approved as a monofocal IOL in the US, Dr Williamson suggests creating billing packages for RayOne EMV similarly to presbyopia-correcting lenses by including additional services, such as astigmatism correction and pre-op testing, to enhance value and patient satisfaction.
• RayOne EMV: Noted for its effectiveness in minimising dysphotopsia and providing good night vision. It delivers solid outcomes in extended depth of focus, offering a reliable alternative to more complex lens options.
• Patient types: Dr Williamson suggests different lenses based on a variety of patient needs, including those seeking minimal nighttime visual disturbances or who are concerned about contrast loss. For these individuals, lenses like the RayOne EMV can be a suitable option.
• Financial transparency: He advises discussing costs openly and offering options to reduce financial anxiety and build trust, while focusing on patient outcomes and satisfaction. Allows maintaining profitability without compromising on patient care.
• Managing patient expectations: Dr Williamson emphasises under-promising and over-delivering, using clear language to set realistic expectations about the benefits and limitations of the lenses.
• Hydrophilic material: He addresses concerns about hydrophilic lenses, stating that reported issues are overstated and that these lenses have been used extensively with few problems.
• Patient satisfaction: Dr Williamson reports high satisfaction with RayOne EMV, attributing it to effective patient counselling and successful lens implementation.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood on Social:
Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram
Dr Ben LaHood | Twitter

Follow Dr Blake Williamson on Social:
Dr Blake Williamson | LinkedIn

What factors drive a surgeon to switch to a different phaco system? Is it about customising settings to match your preferences, ensuring seamless integration with your operating team, or optimising efficiency? Following Rayner’s recent acquisition of Sophi, Dr Ben LaHood delves into these questions with Dr Erik Mertens, who has been using the Sophi Phaco System for four years. In this insightful conversation, Dr Mertens shares his experiences and highlights the innovative features of the Sophi system that are inspiring surgeons worldwide to make the switch.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Dr Erik Mertens is Medical Director and Eye Surgeon of Medipolis. He founded his new multidisciplinary clinic in 2009 (Antwerp, Belgium). Medipolis is the only eye clinic in Belgium with a KIWA certificate, which means that the clinic meets the strictest safety and quality standards in the field of eye surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• Efficiency in the OR: Dr Mertens discusses the intuitive interface of the Sophi Phaco machine, highlighting the user-friendly graphics and design, which simplifies adjusting settings during surgery and allows staff to make quick changes if necessary.
• Improves Workflow: The sleek design and wireless foot pedal of Sophi reduce clutter in the OR, improving workflow and allowing staff to move the machine around with ease.
• A More Sustainable Option: An important feature of Sophi is its day cassette, which can be used for up to 10 cases, reducing medical waste. It also offers a Clean Venturi system which prevents pollution from entering the air of the OR.
• A Machine you can Trust: Dr Mertens trusts Sophi for both routine and complex cases, highlighting the absence of postoperative complications over his four years of use.
• Team and Patient Satisfaction: Dr Mertens points out that having a relaxed and efficient team in the OR contributes to a better patient experience overall, explaining that Sophi has helped create a smoother and less stressful operating environment in his practice.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood Social:
Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram
Dr Ben LaHood | Twitter

Follow Dr Erik Mertens Social:
Dr Erik Mertens | LinkedIn
Dr Erik Mertens | Instagram

Dr Ben LaHood and Dr Rajen Desai discuss the complexities of selecting the right IOL for patients with glaucoma. They emphasise the need for a personalised approach to IOL selection while taking into consideration a multitude of factors, such as disease severity, patient lifestyles, and pupil size.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Dr Rajen Desai is a board-certified cataract and glaucoma surgeon with the Witlin Centre for Advanced Eye Care and Santamaria Eye Center in New Jersey, United States. With over 20 years of experience in vision research, Dr Desai has produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and presentations across the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of Individualised Treatment: Dr Rajen Desai emphasises the importance of individualised treatment plans for cataract surgery, especially in patients with both cataracts and glaucoma. He stresses the significance of distinguishing between patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and those without, as the latter may benefit from different surgical approaches.
• Choosing the Right Lens: The choice of IOL is crucial, especially in patients with mild glaucoma. Dr Desai discusses the benefits of using lenses that provide enhanced depth of focus, such as the RayOne EMV, in these cases.
• Understanding Glaucoma Specifics: When deciding on the type of lens, factors such as the risk of glaucoma progression, patient compliance with medications, sleep apnea and low blood pressure should be taken into account.
• Quality of Life at the Forefront: Dr Desai emphasises the importance of considering patients’ quality of life when making treatment decisions. He suggests that patient preferences and lifestyle, such as reading and driving habits, should be taken into consideration.
• Significance of Pupil Size: Pupil size plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of certain lenses. Dr. Desai suggests that some lenses may not perform optimally in patients with smaller pupil sizes, as they may experience limitations in distance vision.
• RayOne EMV vs Vivity: Dr Desai discusses his current research comparing the use of RayOne EMV and Vivity in patients with glaucoma through a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Together with Dr. Ben LaHood, they emphasise the need for well-designed studies to efficiently evaluate the outcomes of various lens options comprehensively.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood Social:
Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram
Dr Ben LaHood| Twitter

Follow Dr Rajen Desai Social:
Rajen Desai | LinkedIn

In January 2024, Rayner, a global leader in ophthalmic solutions, acquired THIS AG, the innovative Swiss manufacturer of the Sophi phacoemulsification machine. In this episode, Prof Paul Ursell, president of UKISCRS in the United Kingdom, engages in an exclusive interview with the CEO of Rayner, and the Vice President of R&D for Sophi and Managing Director of This AG, to explore the details of the acquisition and discuss the future of this collaboration.

Bios:

Prof Paul Ursell is one of the UK’s leading cataract surgeons having performed over 7,000 cataract operations in a career spanning more than 25 years. As one of the few surgeons to be awarded an MD degree on modern cataract surgery, he has published over 20 peer-reviewed papers on cataract surgery. He is current President of the Council of UKISCRS (United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons) and is the Royal College of Ophthalmologists representative to the EU, and Vision 2020 lead for dementia and sight loss.

Tim Clover is the CEO of Rayner. He has spent 30 years in the medtech/pharma industry and served as NED, Director and Chairman of several boards internationally, especially in the ophthalmic market. He brings to Rayner extensive knowledge of medical devices, ophthalmic services and strategic investment.

Thomas Köppel is an electronic engineer by training and has worked in various international companies in the past, including on ophthalmology-related medical devices. He is the Founder of This AG, a high-tech start-up company that offers innovative ophthalmic systems. His entrepreneurial spirit and his vision led him to create Sophi.

Key Takeaways:

• This AG and Sophi: Thomas Köppel shares insights into the journey of developing the Sophi phaco machine, emphasising its human-centered design, wireless capabilities, and modern design.
• Reasons for Acquisition: Tim Clover discusses Rayner’s decision to acquire Sophi, highlighting the machine’s strong focus on science and technology, high quality, and potential to grow Rayner sales.
• A Winning Bundle: Tim Clover explains that ~50% of IOLs are sold through bundles with phaco machines. The acquisition of the Sophi phaco machine opens up a new part of the market that had been closed for Rayner for a long time and offers ophthalmologists the opportunity to use Rayner IOLs and have a state-of-the-art phaco machine at the same time.
• Professional Education: The acquisition also promises to develop greater professional education, by being able to organise educational seminars that include the use of a Rayner phaco machine.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Tim Clover emphasises Rayner’s commitment to sustainability, detailing efforts to reduce single use plastics in IOL packaging, moving to electronic IFUs, and reducing energy consumption used to manufacture products.
• Sophi Availability: As of March 2024, Sophi is available in the following countries: The Netherlands, South Africa, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Tunesia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Jordan, Indonesia, Venezuela, Ukraine, India, United States, Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Australia, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, Irak, Taiwan, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Vietnam, Egypt, Brazil, Poland, Argentina, and the United Kingdom.

Learn more about the Sophi phaco machine at www.sophi.info or speak to your local Rayner representative.

Additional Resources:

Follow Prof Paul Ursell on Social:
Prof Paul Ursell | LinkedIn

Follow Tim Clover Social:
Tim Clover | LinkedIn

Follow Thomas Köppel on Social:
Thomas Köppel | LinkedIn

Hosted by Dr Ben LaHood, this special episode is in collaboration with Ophthalpreneurs and brings together the founder Amanda Cardwell Carones, alongside Mr Allon Barsam for an insightful discussion, sharing valuable insights on the crucial importance of enhancing patient counselling. Topics cover: mastering pre-surgery counselling, breaking communication barriers, and providing personalised care to achieve optimal outcomes in cataract and refractive surgery.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision in the UK. He specialises in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses, corneal transplantation, and keratoconus management.

Amanda Cardwell Carones is the co-founder of Ophthalpreneurs, a community where ophthalmic business stakeholders come together to crowdsource solutions to common business problems. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the surgical ophthalmic industry and uses her clinical expertise and global outlook to drive practice growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of Counseling: Dr LaHood, Mr Barsam, and Amanda Carones emphasize the critical role of counseling in patient care and highlight its significance in understanding patient needs, managing expectations and ensuring satisfaction.
• Patient-Centric Approach: Amanda Carones describes how they have built their practice around the patient’s journey, and explains that in order to tailor treatment accordingly, they must first focus on understanding each patient’s specific needs and motivations.
• Achieving Patient Satisfaction: Dr LaHood confirms that his patients are the happiest after he spends the necessary time to really get to know them well and understand what they want.
• Avoiding Decision Paralysis: Amanda Carones and Mr Barsam agree that limiting choices presented to patients can help avoid decision paralysis and ensure that patients receive the best possible care.
• Continuous Care: Allon stresses the importance of ongoing counseling and care post-surgery, acknowledging the emotional and psychological aspects of patient recovery, and the need for continued support.
• Ophthalpreneurs: The inaugural Ophthalpreneurs meeting will take place March 14 – 17, 2024 in Stresa, Italy, and aims to provide a supportive, learning-driven environment to help ophthalmologists kick start and expand their practices.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood on Social:
Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram
Dr Ben LaHood| Twitter

Follow Mr Allon Barsam on Social:
Mr Allon Barsam | LinkedIn
Mr Allon Barsam | Instagram
Mr Allon Barsam | Twitter

Follow Amanda Cardwell Carones on Social:
Amanda Cardwell Carones | LinkedIn

Ophthalpreneurs 2024

Rayner’s RayPRO Platform

Bios:

Descripción:

En este episodio exclusivo de Peer2Peer, el podcast, un grupo de cirujanos del destacado grupo clínico Baviera se congrega en la 38º edición del Congreso SECOIR en España para compartir sus vivencias con las lentes intraoculares Premium Rayner y la relevancia de la Salud Digital en relación con la satisfacción del paciente.

Bios:

Descripción:

En este episodio especial de Peer2Peer, grabado desde la 38º edición del Congreso SECOIR en España, el Dr. Mariano Royo, Jefe del Servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital San Rafael, y Ángel Jiménez, Director de Optometría, introducen el concepto de oftalmometría y destacan su relevancia en la cirugía refractiva. Además, ambos invitados comparten sus criterios en la selección de pacientes para lentes tóricas, parte integral del estudio presentado durante el Simposio en SECOIR.

Dr Ben LaHood and Dr Cyres Mehta analyse patient lifestyles, occupations and personality types to tailor their IOL selection.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, in 2023, Dr Ben LaHood was voted one of the most influential and inspirational people in ophthalmology on The Ophthalmologist Power List.

Dr Cyres Mehta is surgical chief of Asia’s most advanced eye centre, the International Eye Centre in Mumbai, India which attracts people from more than 25 countries around the world. He is a pioneer of robotic cataract surgery in India and a strong believer in new technology’s ability to change people’s lives. In 2024, he received the prestigious Leading Eye Surgeon of India Award, underscoring his contributions to advancing eye care and commitment to excellence.

Key Takeaways:

• Asking the Right Questions: When choosing the right lens for a patient, Dr. Cyres Mehta stresses the importance of asking the right questions during a patient’s pre-op visit, such as how important it is to be spectacle independent versus have perfect distance vision.
• Trifocals and Nighttime Driving: Cyres Mehta and Dr. Ben LaHood agree that talking to patients about their nighttime driving habits is key when deciding whether to implant a trifocal lens, highlighting that if the patient does drive a lot at night, trifocal lenses are best avoided due to potential glare and halos.
• Special Professions: Cyres Mehta and Dr. Ben LaHood examine the needs of different patients depending on their profession, such as stockbrokers, makeup artists, cosmetologists, dentists, professional shooters and golfers.
• Evaluating Patient Heights: Cyres Metha frequently evaluates his patients’ height and arm length to determine at what distance they will be reading when using a device, which is becoming particularly important to patients today.
• Under Promise and Overdeliver: Ben LaHood and Dr. Cyres Mehta discuss managing patients’ expectations and recommend under promising and over delivering at all times, if possible.
• Tailormade Care: Ben LaHood highlights the importance of understanding your patient’s goals and what they want to achieve, allowing you to give tailormade care.
• RayPRO: Ben LaHood references RayPRO, a digital patient reported outcome measurement tool that produces real-world insights, and he emphasises that the data collected from this tool can be very helpful for subsequent procedures.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Ben LaHood Social:
Dr Ben LaHood | LinkedIn
Dr Ben LaHood | Instagram
Dr Ben LaHood| Twitter

Follow Dr Cyres Mehta Social:
Dr Cyres Mehta | Instagram
Dr Cyres Mehta | Twitter

Rayner’s RayPRO Platform

Summary:

Dr Neo Tapela and Dr Mor Dickman dive into the critical importance of patient reported outcomes and the technologies that foster them to the ophthalmic industry.

Bios:

Dr Neo Tapela – Dr Tapela is a physician, epidemiologist and healthcare innovator with over 10 years’ experience in health services and outcomes research, policy and program leadership. She is the Chief Scientific Officer at ICHOM (the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement), a leading non-profit defining the health outcomes that matter to patients. ICHOM accomplishes this by empowering patient and clinical leaders to identify the most important results in care including survival, quality of life, functioning and the experience of care.  ICHOM’s standardized sets of patient-centred outcomes measures are evidence-based resources that help all actors in healthcare design, deliver, fund, and evaluate care based on outcomes that matter to patients. To date, ICHOM has developed 45 sets covering over 60% of the global burden of disease and implemented in over 400 care settings around the world.

Dr Mor Dickman – Dr Mor Dickman, MD PhD, is a consultant cornea and cataract surgeon at the University Eye Clinic Maastricht in the Netherlands. His clinical research focuses on improving patient outcomes for individuals with corneal diseases and cataracts. Mor co-chairs the ESCRS Registries, one of the largest IT projects in ophthalmology, and is a member of the ESCRS Research Committee, Digital Health Special Interest Group, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Healthcare Professionals Working group.

Key Takeaways:

• Real data from patients: PROMs (patient reported outcome measures) are important because they provide information that is reported directly by patients without the interpretation from clinicians or anyone else on the health status of patients. Data from PROMs, along with clinician-reported outcome measures, can generate insights that drive high value patient-centred care.
• Another piece of the puzzle: for Dr Dickman, PROMs help put data in context both in studies and clinical routine by providing additional means to capture both the personal and societal context of patients.
• Useful for all: Dr Tapela explains that PROMS data can be used by patients to track their improvements, engage in shared decision making, as well as by doctors and hospital systems to see where improvements can be made in the quality of care.
• Making better decisions for patients: Dr Dickman highlights the importance of identifying the discrepancy that can occur between clinical outcome measures and patient reported outcomes to make better decisions with patients.
• A tremendous role: Dr Dickman notes the tremendous role for patient reported outcome measures to help evaluate new technologies and differentiate between products in terms of what they really deliver to patients and regulatory decision-making.
• A revolution is near: Dr Tapela notes that patient-important outcomes can absolutely revolutionize the way that care is being delivered but points out that standardisation and transparency of data is key.
• RayPRO: Rayner has developed a digital patient-reported outcome measurement tool that delivers real-world insights, while decreasing the administrative burden for both patients and surgeons.

Additional Resources:

International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement

Rayner’s RayPRO Platform

Follow Dr Neo Tapela Social:
Dr Neo Tapela | LinkedIn
Dr Neo Tapela | Twitter

Follow Dr Mor Dickman Social:
Dr Mor Dickman | LinkedIn

Summary:

Dr Eric Rosenberg and Dr Roger Zaldivar explore how surgeons can enhance their surgical techniques by integrating technology into their practices.

Bios:

Dr Eric Rosenberg
Partner and Director of Clinical Technology at SightMD, Dr Eric Rosenberg focuses on digital visualisation in the anterior segment and digital health solutions for DOS and is an ophthalmologist in Babylon, New York. He is Assistant professor of ophthalmology at New York Medical College and Northwell Health and affiliated with Good Samaritan University Hospital

Dr Roger Zaldivar
Roger Zaldivar, MD, MBA is the CEO of the Instituto Zaldivar in Mendoza Argentina. He is also co-founder of REVAI, a collaborative platform created by doctors for doctors that provides the latest tools and tech to boost the efficiency of medical practices.

Key Takeaways:

• Data is the Future: For Dr Zaldivar, the future of ophthalmic innovation will come from data and how we can analyse and process that data to make better decisions for patients.
• Sharing Data: Rosenberg and Dr Zaldivar agree that data must be agnostic and shared between industry and surgeons, citing the importance of using those numbers to get a larger, more accurate picture of patient outcomes.
• A Reality Check: Zalidvar warns that if surgeons don’t start embracing new technologies to enhance their efficiency, they face the risk of becoming obsolete due to decreased performance.
• Improving the Patient Experience: Rosenberg emphasises that technology could never replace surgeons, but underscores the importance of using it to enhance the patient experience.
• The Revolution is Near: Rosenberg and Dr Zaldivar predict a forthcoming ophthalmology revolution, thanks to AI and abundant data, offering patients highly customised eyecare solutions.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Eric Rosenberg Social:
Dr Eric Rosenberg | LinkedIn
Dr Eric Rosenberg | Twitter

Follow Dr Roger Zaldivar Social:
Dr Roger Zaldivar | LinkedIn
Dr Roger Zaldivar | Instagram
Dr Roger Zaldivar | Twitter

Summary:

Dr Rosenberg & Dr Wiley unveil the unexplored: ophthalmologists are just scratching the surface with digital advancements.

Bios:

Dr Eric Rosenberg
Partner and Director of Clinical Technology at SightMD, Dr Eric Rosenberg focuses on digital visualisation in the anterior segment and digital health solutions for DOS and is an ophthalmologist in Babylon, New York. He is Assistant professor of ophthalmology at New York Medical College and Northwell Health and affiliated with Good Samaritan University Hospital.

Dr William Wiley
Dr William Wiley, Medical Director of the Cleveland Eye Clinic, is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist who has pioneered many eye procedures in the Northeast Ohio area. To date, Dr Wiley has performed more than 50,000 cataract and refractive surgical procedures.

Key Takeaways:

• The DOS: The DOS is a multifaceted organisation dedicated to the integration and development of technology in the ophthalmic sector.
• Barely scratching the surface: Dr William Wiley highlights the fact that the ophthalmic sector is not yet taking advantage of the latest advancements in technology to reach its full potential.
• A lot of room to grow: Dr Eric Rosenberg emphasises that it is time to start integrating technology into daily practice.
• Getting direct access to patients: Dr William Wiley explains how Rayner’s RayPRO app has successfully gained direct access to patients to track their post–operative outcomes.
• A new peer-to-peer interaction: Dr William Wiley calls attention to the transition of peer-to-peer education from peer– reviewed journal articles and live meetings to social media, where the transmission of information can happen almost instantly.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Eric Rosenberg Social:
Dr Eric Rosenberg | LinkedIn
Dr Eric Rosenberg | Twitter

Follow Dr William Wiley Social:
Dr William Wiley | LinkedIn
Dr William Wiley | Instagram
Dr William Wiley | Twitter

Summary:

In this episode, we’re looking back at the 2023 Rayner Symposium at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in Vienna with Professor Graham Barrett, Dr Damien Gatinel, Professor Oliver Findl and Mr Allon Barsam as they discuss Balancing Quantity and Quality of Vision with Advanced Technology IOLs.

Bios:

Professor Graham Barrett
Professor Graham Barrett is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Clinical Professor in the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science.  Professor Barrett has made an extensive and varied contribution to ophthalmology, both nationally and internationally. He is founder and immediate past President of the AUSCRS.

Dr Damien Gatinel
Dr Damien Gatinel is among the world’s leading experts in refractive surgery and head of the Department of Refractive and Anterior Segment Surgery at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in Paris, France. He is the author of more than 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals and also the owner of several patents for IOLs.

Professor Oliver Findl
Professor Oliver Findl chairs the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hanusch Hospital in Vienna, Austria. He has authored over 350 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and is currently the president of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).

Mr Allon Barsam
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision, and recognised internationally as an expert and key opinion leader for cataract and refractive surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• The perfect balance: Professor Graham Barrett explains how he designed the RayOne EMV and, in his opinion, created the perfect balance between range of vision and quality of vision.
• A fully non-diffractive IOL: Dr Damien Gatinel shed light on Rayner’s optic descriptions for RayOne EMV and RayOne Trifocal and concluded that they have accurately explained their advanced technology optics.
• Better contrast sensitivity: Professor Oliver Findl shares results from a comparative prospective study with RayOne EMV and AcrySof IQ Vivity noting that there was no significant difference for distance and intermediate vision, nor for reading speed, but that the RayOne EMV had slightly better contrast sensitivity, especially under mesopic conditions with glare, and also smaller halo size.
• Especially suited for monovision: Professor Findl concludes that RayOne EMV is an enhanced monofocal IOL that is especially suited for a monovision strategy with 0.75 D, or slightly more being optimal to further enhance near vision.
• Significantly better results: Mr Allon Barsam compared RayOne EMV and AcrySof IQ Vivity in a large cohort study and highlights that while the UIVA was similar for both lenses, the RayOne EMV demonstrated significantly better UDVA and CDVA, as well as a higher patient satisfaction rate with postoperative vision.

Follow Professor Graham Barrett on social:
Professor Graham Barrett | LinkedIn

Follow Dr Damien Gatinel on social:
Dr Damien Gatinel | LinkedIn

Follow Professor Oliver Findl on social:
Professor Oliver Findl | LinkedIn

Connect with Mr Allon Barsam on social:
Mr Allon Barsam | LinkedIn
Mr Allon Barsam | Twitter
Mr Allon Barsam | Instagram

Summary:

This episode features a series of presentations and insightful discussions that took place at the 2023 Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Congress about EMV and EMV Toric. Join leading ophthalmologists Prof Graham Barrett, Dr Filomena Ribeiro, Dr Karl Stonecipher, Dr Damien Gatinel, Dr Georgia Cleary, Dr Dean Corbett, and Dr Brian Harrisberg as they discuss patient counseling and outcomes and more.

Bios:

Professor Graham Barrett
Professor Graham Barrett is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Clinical Professor in the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science.  Professor Barrett has a made an extensive and varied contribution to ophthalmology, both nationally and internationally. He is founder and immediate past President of the AUSCRS.

Dr Filomena Ribeiro
Dr Filomena Ribeiro is the head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hospital da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal and a member of the executive board of the ESCRS.

Dr Karl Stonecipher
Dr Karl Stonecipher is the medical director of TLC Greensboro in North Carolina and a clinical associate professor of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina. Dr Stonecipher has over 100 abstracts, articles, and book chapters published, and speaks both nationally and internationally on refractive, cataract, presbyopic and refractive surgery.

Dr Damien Gatinel
Dr Damien Gatinel is among the world’s leading experts in refractive surgery and head of the Department of Refractive and Anterior Segment Surgery at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in Paris, France. He is the author of more than 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals and also the owner of several patents for IOLs.

Dr Georgia Cleary
Dr Georgia Cleary is a fellowship trained cornea specialist with a research interest in cataract surgery and intraocular lenses. She is a consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, where she works in the Corneal Unit, Acute Ophthalmology and Surgical Ophthalmology Services.

Dr Dean Corbett
Dr Dean Corbett is a highly esteemed educator and surgeon with 20 years of expertise. He specializes in vision correction, glaucoma and innovative techniques in New Zealand and has been instrumental in introducing new and innovative products and techniques to both New Zealand patients and surgeons.

Dr Brian Harrisberg
Dr Brian Harrisberg is one of Australia’s most accomplished and experienced ophthalmologists. He is an expert in the areas of cataract and refractive surgery and is involved in trialing and developing new technology.  He is a key opinion leader on intraocular lens design. Dr Harrisberg is the founder and medical director of Central Sydney Eye Surgeons located in RPA Medical Centre, Newtown.

Key Takeaways:

• A long thought-out solution: After many years of thinking about lenses and lens design and optics, Prof Graham Barrett found a solution that gives patients the best satisfaction with the least compromise in their quality of vision – the RayOne EMV.
• Gains in depth of focus: After studying and comparing different EDOF lenses, Dr Damien Gatinel explains that the EMV provides a greater depth of focus than a normal spherical IOL.
• A broad range of patients: Prof Barrett highlights that the range of people who could have the EMV lens is very broad and the extended range of vision can help patients continue their hobbies, whether it be reading or playing sports.
• Reducing the risk of falling: Dr Karl Stonecipher and Dr Filomena Ribeiro discuss the new clinical studies coming out of Canada showing that extended range of vision decreases the risk of falling in patients. Dr Ribeiro emphasizes that many EMV patients do not need progressive glasses, which increase the risk of falling.
• A beautiful, well-designed product: For Dr Dean Corbett, the EMV is very well designed and has one of the best preloaded injectors that he has ever used, stating that “it folds the lens beautifully and that the wound size is very attractive.”
• Delivering terrific results: Dr Corbett concludes that the EMV with mini-monovision can potentially deliver terrific functional vision for patients.

Follow Professor Graham Barrett on social:
Professor Graham Barrett | LinkedIn

Follow Dr Filomena Ribeiro on social:
Dr Filomena Ribeiro | LinkedIn

Follow Dr Damien Gatinel on social:
Dr Damien Gatinel | LinkedIn

Follow Dr Georgia Cleary on social:
Dr Georgia Cleary | LinkedIn
Dr Georgia Cleary | Instagram

Follow Dr Dean Corbett on social:
Dr Dean Corbett | LinkedIn
Dr Dean Corbett | Instagram

Follow Dr Brian Harrisberg on social:
Dr Brian Harrisberg | LinkedIn
Dr Brian Harrisberg | Instagram

Summary:

Rayner’s Vice President of Marketing, Chris Willis, is joined by his colleagues European Marketing Director, Tim Brown, and Medical Communications Manager, Anne Nestor, for this special episode of Peer2Peer: the Podcast. In a break from the usual surgeon-led programming they discuss Rayner’s plans for the ESCRS 2023 congress in Vienna including an expansive scientific program, two new and exciting digital launches, and more.

Key Takeaways:

• The full Rayner Scientific programme can be viewed and added easily to calendars at rayner.com/escrs2023. This year, Rayner products and data will be covered in 14 free papers, 11 presented posters and 26 e-posters by leading surgeons. These presentations will cover Rayner’s range of IOLs, and go in-depth on topics such as toric IOLs, enhanced monofocal IOLs and trifocality.
• Rayner’s Lunchtime Symposium, ‘Balancing Quantity and Quality of Vision with Advanced Technology IOLs’ and moderated by Professor Graham Barrett is scheduled for Sunday at 13:00 in room A5. In addition to sharing the truth about advanced IOL optics, the panel will present large scale and comparative real-world clinical results, as well as patient reported outcomes using the latest in digital health platforms.
• Rayner will have two digital platform launches at the ESCRS: RayPRO and Peer2Peer. RayPRO, Rayner’s platform designed to provide surgeons with long-term, real-time patient-report insights for a period up to three years, goes brand agnostic and also now includes the clinically validated Cat-PROM5 questionnaire. Peer2Peer, Rayner’s clinical education platform, will relaunch with an extensive revamp and new feature – KOL Corner, where visitors can access timestamped video content that answers specific questions.
• Rayner has taken the challenge, issued last year, of making the ESCRS congress carbon neutral. Rayner’s 2023 booth is made of over 90% recycled/recyclable materials, with 80% of components being reused from last year. For every product inquiry that gets made during ESCRS, Rayner will plant a tree.

Rayner at ESCRS: Full Schedule: Rayner.com/ESCRS2023

Rayner on Social:

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

Twitter

Summary:

Recorded at AECOS, Dr Paul Singh (US), Dr Arjan Hura (US) and Dr Karolinne Rocha (US) delve into the recent advancements in ophthalmic technology. Their conversation covers the application of RayOne EMV for enhanced monovision, the importance of tracking patient-reported outcomes using RayPRO, and the role of HASA OPTIX premium, single-use instruments in promoting efficiency within the operating room.

Bios:

Dr Inder Paul Singh (host)

Dr Inder Paul Singh president of The Eye Centres of Racine & Kenosha Ltd. in Wisconsin. His clinical research has been published and presented at various national meetings and universities around the world. Dr. Singh was also named America’s Best Eye Doctor in 2021 by Newsweek.

Dr Arjan Hura (guest)

Dr Arjan Hura is a refractive cataract and anterior segment surgeon at the Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute in Los Angeles, California.

Dr Karolinne Rocha (guest)

Dr Karolinne Rocha is assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at MUSC in Charleston, South Carolina specializing in cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• RayOne EMV offers extended range of vision without compromise: Dr Rocha describes EMV as a ‘monofocal plus’ IOL, providing excellent intermediate vision wihtout compromising distance. Dr Hura highlights the benefits for patients with corneal issues, Fuchs’ dystrophy, or spherical aberration from an ERM.
• Importance of intermediate vision: Dr Rocha stresses the significance of intermediate vision, often overlooked by patients who are focused on far sight. Modern life relies heavily on devices like smartphones and tablets which are held at arm’s length.
• Simplified patient follow-up with RayPRO: Addressing post-surgery challenges, Dr Hura praises RayPRO for direct patient-surgeon data exchange, enabling thorough vision progress assessment to support informed decisions.
• Long-term, real-time, patient-reported insights with RayPRO: The surgeons highlight RayPRO as an effective tool for continuous patient follow-up and data collection up to three years post-surgery.
• HASA OPTIX improves OR efficiency: The surgeons support single-use instruments for instant tool access, enhancing precision, reducing OR stress, and potentially lowering infection risks.

Additional Resources:

Follow Dr Inder Paul Singh on social:
Dr Inder Paul Singh | LinkedIn 

Follow Dr Arjan Hura on social:
Dr Arjan Hura | LinkedIn 

Follow Dr Karolinne Rocha on social:
(18) Karolinne Maia Rocha M.D, Ph.D | LinkedIn

Summary:

Recorded at ASCRS, Professor Oliver Findl (Austria) and Prof David Chang (USA) discuss their collective dedication to promoting sustainability in the field of ophthalmology. They delve into the various initiatives, best practices, and offer a visionary outlook, ultimately illuminating the path toward a future where sustainable eye surgery thrives.

Bios:

Professor Oliver Findl (host)
Professor Oliver Findl chairs the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hanusch Hospital in Vienna, Austria. He has authored over 350 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and is currently the president of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) where his tenure has focused on a mission of sustainability.

Prof David Chang (guest)
Prof David Chang is a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco. He is past chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Cataract Preferred Practice Pattern and the Annual Meeting Program Committee. Prof Chang is also past president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and he chaired of the ASCRS Foundation for 9 years. He currently heads the advisory board of EyeSustain, a global consortium of eye societies focused on making ophthalmic care and surgery more sustainable.

Key Takeaways:

• The healthcare sector accounts for a significant amount of carbon emissions for most industrialised countries, ranging from 5% in most European countries to almost 10% in the US. This realisation has highlighted the paradox that the very profession entrusted with safeguarding public health is contributing significantly to the largest threat to our well-being. To address this complex issue, groups like EyeSustain have emerged, bringing together surgeons and industry stakeholders to find sustainable solutions.
• A survey conducted by EyeSustain among US surgeons revealed that 95% of respondents believed there is excessive waste in ophthalmic surgery and expressed concerns about global warming.
• Ophthalmic manufacturers have a responsibility to lead change. Rayner has taken a significant step towards sustainability at industry congresses by actively working to offset carbon emissions, such as participating in tree planting initiatives, adopting a paperless approach and constructing booths from reusable and sustainable materials.
• Beyond a single event, Rayner, like other companies, are evaluating their own products and making changes such as moving to electronic Instructions for Use (eIFUs), replacing plastic blister packaging with pouches, and even considering the elimination of product boxes.
• Surgeons and their surgical centers can act immediately in several ways. Prof Chang and Prof Findl suggest:
  1. Reviewing surgical packs to ensure they contain only necessary items.
  2. Consider moving from full body drapes and gowns for patients to using large eye drapes.
  3. Opt for alcohol-based hand scrubs instead of water-based solutions to conserve water and improve efficiency.
  4. Consider reusing multi-dose bottles that are currently being discarded after a single use.
• Join the movement today by taking the EyeSustain pledge which includes seven actions you can implement to reduce your environmental footprint. It also makes you a member of the community sharing information, learnings and ultimately working together to make ophthalmic surgery more sustainable.

Connect with Professor Oliver Findl on social:
Professor Oliver Findl | LinkedIn

Summary:

Recorded at ASCRS, Dr Ben LaHood (Australia) chats with Professor Graham Barrett (Australia) who has made an extensive contribution to ophthalmology including Rayner’s RayOne EMV enhanced monofocal IOL.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood (host)
Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Professor Graham Barrett (guest)
Professor Graham Barrett, is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and a Clinical Professor in the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

Professor Barrett has a made an extensive and varied contribution to ophthalmology, both nationally and internationally. He is founder and immediate past President of the AUSCRS.

Key Takeaways:

• The goal of RayOne EMV: Professor Barrett collaborated with Rayner on the RayOne EMV enhanced monofocal IOL with the aim of improving vision to reduce the dependency on glasses while maintaining excellent visual quality. Unlike diffractive multifocal or extended depth of focus IOLs that often compromise the quality of vision, RayOne EMV seeks to provide standard monofocal levels of dysphotopsia.
• The concept behind RayOne EMV: Professor Barrett’s objective was to extend the depth of focus and ensure optimal usage of light. Over a decade ago, after thorough exploration of optics, he introduced the concept of extended depth of focus and ‘monofocal plus’. He aimed to strike a desirable balance between focus range and the amount of positive spherical aberration on the IOL optic.
• Professor Barrett’s choice of positive spherical aberration (+SA) rather than negative spherical aberration (-SA):
  Alignment with the natural visual system: Positive spherical aberration aligns with our natural visual system, as our receptors are adapted to it.
  – Less affected by decentration: Positive spherical aberration is less sensitive to decentration than negative spherical aberration. Therefore, even if the IOL is not perfectly centered, visual quality is less likely to be compromised.
  – Optimal visual quality: Combining negative defocus (myopia) with positive spherical aberration provides better vision than having either aberration alone. Negative spherical aberration works synergistically with hyperopia, but most patients prefer a slight amount of myopia. In cases of monovision, positive spherical aberration is more likely to provide synergy.
• Using RayOne EMV with monovision: Professor Barrett recommends treating the first eye with either no refractive correction (plano) or slight myopia. Accurate results rely on optimising the lens constant. The target for the second eye can vary depending on the surgeon’s preference, ranging from perfect distance vision to including reading and intermediate vision. Modest monovision can be achieved with compatible refractive corrections such as -0.75 D or -1.0 D.
• Managing astigmatism with RayOne EMV Toric: Professor Barrett anticipates that the RayOne EMV Toric lens will become his primary choice for managing patients with astigmatism due to the high level of patient satisfaction and absence of dysphotopsia. Both Professor Barrett and Dr LaHood agree that they will always choose a toric IOL for patients with significant astigmatism, without emphasising the distinction between a standard lens and its toric variation

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on social:
Dr Ben LaHood (@drbenlahood) | Instagram
Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Connect with Professor Graham Barrett on social:
Professor Graham Barrett | LinkedIn

Summary:

Recorded at ASCRS, Dr Ben LaHood (Australia) and Dr Damien Gatinel (France) dive deeply into advanced IOL optics and discuss the bench testing Gatinel has performed across a large number of the IOLs currently on the market. The results of this work empower ophthalmic surgeons to better predict the performance of different IOLs based on key factors such as asphericity, aspheric aberration (positive or negative), thickness, multifocality, aperture effect, lens placement and more.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood (host)
Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Dr Damien Gatinel (guest)
Dr Damien Gatinel is among the world’s leading experts in refractive surgery and head of the Department of Refractive and Anterior Segment Surgery at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital in Paris, France. He is the author of more than 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals and also the owner of several patents for IOLs.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of higher order aberrations: Dr Gatinel emphasises the significance of understanding higher order aberrations, as they have a significant impact on the quality of vision and depth of focus. He and his team diligently analyse and classify IOLs as part of their ongoing optical bench testing program. By studying these factors, they aim to improve their understanding of IOL performance and enhance patient outcomes.
• Managing expectations with new IOLs: Dr Gatinel, recommends underpromising to patients when using innovative products, particularly for individuals with more advanced cataracts. This approach allows for a comprehensive evaluation of how the expected results correspond to the actual reported outcomes, ensuring patient satisfaction and informed decision-making.
• Attending to patient needs: Dr LaHood and Dr Gatinel highlight the importance of understanding patients’ lifestyles to provide personalised recommendations for the most suitable IOL. They stress the need to consider a wide range of near vision tasks beyond just reading habits, such as digital device use. This comprehensive understanding enables more tailored and effective IOL recommendations.
• Dr Damien Gatinel’s clinical study on RayOne EMV: Dr Gatinel discusses his evaluation of the RayOne EMV lens on the optical bench, emphasising its advantageous positive spherical aberration. He highlights that this characteristic provides significant benefits for patient outcomes by eliminating visual disturbances such as halos and glare.
• The advantages of positive spherical aberration: Dr Gatinel concludes that lenses with positive spherical aberration, like RayOne EMV, offer benefits when targeting a slightly hyperopic correction. This extended depth of focus is particularly advantageous for patients with larger pupils, commonly seen in younger individuals.
• The future of optical technology: Dr Gatinel predicts that optical advancements will increasingly focus on customising IOLs to cater to each patient’s unique characteristics, such as cornea properties, pupil diameter, lens placement, and astigmatism. This personalised approach will enable a more precise match between the IOL and the individual patient. Dr Gatinel believes that there is also a possibility of transitioning from pseudo accommodation to true accommodation, which would significantly transform the landscape of IOLs.

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on social:
Dr Ben LaHood (@drbenlahood) | Instagram
Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Connect with Dr Damien Gatinel on social:
Dr Damien Gatinel | LinkedIn

Summary:

Dr Ben LaHood (Australia) and Ms Lucia Pelosini (UK) discuss the effective strategies for managing astigmatism. They delve into key aspects such as patient assessment, selection processes, and the treatment of astigmatism in regular and irregular eyes. They also analyse the latest data on the RayOne EMV Toric and share invaluable insights to help achieve optimal outcomes with toric IOLs.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood (host)
Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Dr Ben LaHood is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Ms Lucia Pelosini  (guest)
Ms Lucia Pelosini is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. Ms Pelosini has extensive experience in both corneal-based and lens-based refractive surgery techniques and is an educational and clinical supervisor for Junior doctors and fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London.

Key Takeaways:

• Thresholds for treating astigmatism: Ms Pelosini emphasises the significance of addressing astigmatism in patients regardless of its severity. The utilisation of toric IOLs enables surgeons to enhance visual outcomes for individuals with both mild and severe astigmatism, rather than simply swapping poor vision caused by cataracts with poor vision caused by astigmatism.
• Astigmatism and depth of focus: Dr LaHood and Ms Pelosini agree that the notion of leaving patients with a certain level of astigmatism to achieve depth of focus is a misconception. Nowadays, surgeons have access to more sophisticated solutions on the market, such as RayOne EMV and trifocal lenses, which they can utilise to achieve better visual outcomes.
• Patient outcomes with RayOne Toric (60 patients): Ms Pelosini summarises her clinical findings of 60 patients who underwent implantation with the RayOne Toric IOL. Her results affirm that there were no cases of regression or the necessity for IOL rotation or adjustment, indicating the dependable stability of the RayOne Toric.
• Enhancing toric IOL outcomes: Dr LaHood and Ms Pelosini share valuable recommendations for improving patient outcomes. They emphasise the significance of evaluating the ocular surface during the patient selection, obtaining precise measurements, ensuring the appropriate size of capsulorhexis for stability, thorough removal of OVD, and diligent postoperative evaluation. These tips contribute to optimising the success of toric IOL procedures.
• RayOne EMV Toric: Ms Pelosini outlines the benefits of the RayOne EMV Toric IOL, specifically highlighting its “loop” haptic design. This design offers advantages such as preventing posterior capsule shrinkage and enhancing lens stability within the capsular bag. Additionally, Dr LaHood and Ms Pelosini agree that a lower cylinder value of 0.75 diopters, which is lower than what most lens manufacturers typically offer, is optimal for achieving favorable results.

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on social:
Dr Ben LaHood (@drbenlahood) | Instagram
Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Connect with Ms Lucia Pelosini on social:
Lucia Pelosini | LinkedIn

Summary:

Mr Alastair Stuart (UK) and Dr Ben LaHood (Australia) explore the advancements in technology that enable modified monovision. The discussion encompasses the utilisation of positive and negative spherical aberration, a comprehensive comparison between enhanced monofocal and trifocal IOLs, and valuable insights for surgeons striving to deliver optimal blended vision to patients who desire reduced reliance on eyeglasses.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood (host)
Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Ben is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Mr Alastair Stuart (guest)
Mr Alastair Stuart is a Cataract and Refractive Surgeon at Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire in the UK. He is highly experienced in cataract and lens based surgery, has presented on blended vision at congresses around Europe, and he is also one of just a few surgeons worldwide to have had formal training in refractive surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• Spherical aberration: Mr Stuart explains the concept of true blended vision or ‘modified monovision’, which incorporates positive spherical aberration into each eye to reduce the associated drawbacks of standard monovision. Spherical aberration converts light from passing through a single focus point to spreading light through the visual axis, which elongates the focal range from far to intermediate. Typically, with this method, the reading vision of an eye that is set at distance (which induces spherical aberration), is a lot better than a cataract patient who has a standard monofocal, as the two eyes work together synergistically, resulting in improved tolerance levels of ~98%.
• Positive spherical aberration: The total spherical aberration in the eye post-surgery includes what was in the lens, and what was innately in the patient’s cornea – Mr Stuart carries out these measurements prior to performing the lens replacement surgery with RayOne EMV, to predict patient outcomes. The distribution of positive spherical aberration in patient corneas is around 0.2 microns, therefore inducing positive spherical aberration with an IOL moves the patients towards 0.3-0.4, rather than negative which would push towards 0.
• Practising monovision: Standard monovision involves making one eye better for near vision and the other eye for distance, reported downsides for patients include cross blur, suppression of distance sight, and loss of stereopsis – Mr Stuart explains that some surgeons have been burnt because of these complications. Modified monovision brings some useful near and intermediate vision to the system while helping the distance eye, which improves tolerance and extends emmetropia.
• Patient adaptation: Mr Stuart uses RayOne EMV in two different ways, either at plano or in a modified monovision set-up. During the adaptation period for patients who undergo the monovision set-up, Mr Stuart offers patients temporary glasses which he advises patients to use sparingly to avoid jeopardising the adaptation process.
• Refractive accuracy: Mr Stuart and Dr LaHood discuss the RayOne EMV lens and its refractive accuracy, which they agreed 80% of patients achieve within half of the intended target. Mr Stuart explains that when patients are off target, they are typically myopic. Mr Stuart has found that the RayOne EMV lens is more forgiving when implanted at plano. He goes on to explain that he targets the first plus on the biometry for the plano eye and tends to aim for -0.25 D to achieve -1.50D in the refraction. Pushing plus in the refraction gives a hard endpoint, and consistent refractions across clinicians is what Mr Stuart advises is important for auditing data.
• Segmental refractive IOLs vs RayOne EMV: Mr Stuart has limited experience with segmental refractive IOLs, however feels that more than one focal point poses risk to a drop in distance quality and contrast sensitivity. Modern multifocal technology which works to reduce the diffractive rings to reduce glare, in Mr Stuart’s opinion will only compromise the reading vision. The surgeons agree that there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ or a perfect lens, however Mr Stuart explains that he prefers implanting RayOne EMV compared to multifocal IOLs due to the higher patient dissatisfaction rate with the latter.

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on social:
Dr Ben LaHood (@drbenlahood) | Instagram
Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Connect with Mr Alastair Stuart on social:
Alastair Stuart | LinkedIn

Summary:

Mr Alastair Stuart (UK) and Dr Ben LaHood (Australia) explore the advancements in technology that enable modified monovision. The discussion encompasses the utilisation of positive and negative spherical aberration, a comprehensive comparison between enhanced monofocal and trifocal IOLs, and valuable insights for surgeons striving to deliver optimal blended vision to patients who desire reduced reliance on eyeglasses.

Bios:

Dr Ben LaHood (host)
Dr Ben LaHood, refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgeon from Australia, has gained international recognition for his extensive research on astigmatism management and biometry, which is regularly shared around the world. Additionally, Ben is the host of two widely popular ophthalmology-themed podcasts.

Mr Alastair Stuart (guest)
Mr Alastair Stuart is a Cataract and Refractive Surgeon at Optegra Eye Hospital Hampshire in the UK. He is highly experienced in cataract and lens based surgery, has presented on blended vision at congresses around Europe, and he is also one of just a few surgeons worldwide to have had formal training in refractive surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• Spherical aberration: Mr Stuart explains the concept of true blended vision or ‘modified monovision’, which incorporates positive spherical aberration into each eye to reduce the associated drawbacks of standard monovision. Spherical aberration converts light from passing through a single focus point to spreading light through the visual axis, which elongates the focal range from far to intermediate. Typically, with this method, the reading vision of an eye that is set at distance (which induces spherical aberration), is a lot better than a cataract patient who has a standard monofocal, as the two eyes work together synergistically, resulting in improved tolerance levels of ~98%.
• Positive spherical aberration: The total spherical aberration in the eye post-surgery includes what was in the lens, and what was innately in the patient’s cornea – Mr Stuart carries out these measurements prior to performing the lens replacement surgery with RayOne EMV, to predict patient outcomes. The distribution of positive spherical aberration in patient corneas is around 0.2 microns, therefore inducing positive spherical aberration with an IOL moves the patients towards 0.3-0.4, rather than negative which would push towards 0.
• Practising monovision: Standard monovision involves making one eye better for near vision and the other eye for distance, reported downsides for patients include cross blur, suppression of distance sight, and loss of stereopsis – Mr Stuart explains that some surgeons have been burnt because of these complications. Modified monovision brings some useful near and intermediate vision to the system while helping the distance eye, which improves tolerance and extends emmetropia.
• Patient adaptation: Mr Stuart uses RayOne EMV in two different ways, either at plano or in a modified monovision set-up. During the adaptation period for patients who undergo the monovision set-up, Mr Stuart offers patients temporary glasses which he advises patients to use sparingly to avoid jeopardising the adaptation process.
• Refractive accuracy: Mr Stuart and Dr LaHood discuss the RayOne EMV lens and its refractive accuracy, which they agreed 80% of patients achieve within half of the intended target. Mr Stuart explains that when patients are off target, they are typically myopic. Mr Stuart has found that the RayOne EMV lens is more forgiving when implanted at plano. He goes on to explain that he targets the first plus on the biometry for the plano eye and tends to aim for -0.25 D to achieve -1.50D in the refraction. Pushing plus in the refraction gives a hard endpoint, and consistent refractions across clinicians is what Mr Stuart advises is important for auditing data.
• Segmental refractive IOLs vs RayOne EMV: Mr Stuart has limited experience with segmental refractive IOLs, however feels that more than one focal point poses risk to a drop in distance quality and contrast sensitivity. Modern multifocal technology which works to reduce the diffractive rings to reduce glare, in Mr Stuart’s opinion will only compromise the reading vision. The surgeons agree that there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ or a perfect lens, however Mr Stuart explains that he prefers implanting RayOne EMV compared to multifocal IOLs due to the higher patient dissatisfaction rate with the latter.

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on social:
Dr Ben LaHood (@drbenlahood) | Instagram
Ben LaHood | LinkedIn

Connect with Mr Alastair Stuart on social:
Alastair Stuart | LinkedIn

Summary:

Vice President of Marketing, Chris Willis, is joined by Marketing Director for the Americas, Sam van Roon, and Sr. Director and OMIDRIA Brand Lead, Nicolee Schulze to discuss what listeners can expect from Rayner at ASCRS this year, including the US launch of HASA OPTIX and RayPRO+, and new outcome data on Rayner products that will be presented on the podium.

Key Takeaways:

• HASA OPTIX: Rayner is launching HASA OPTIX in the United States following a successful European launch. These instruments increase operating room efficiencies, save time and money, and improve inventory management. Surgeons can learn about HASA OPTIX at the Rayner booth, speak to the CEO, and test the quality of the instruments themselves.
• RayPRO+: RayPRO+, an enhanced profile of RayPRO, also launches officially at ASCRS. RayPRO+ allows surgeons to collect and compare patient-reported outcomes from any IOL manufacturer, providing a brand agnostic platform. RayPRO+ offers insights into patient satisfaction, dysphotopsia rates, and target refraction; and it’s easier to use with a new CSV file technology. Roger Zaldivar will present new data on how RayPRO+ can deliver clinical data sets and insights without putting additional workload on staff.
• Podium presentations: New data and outcomes with Rayner products will be shared in several podium presentations by KOLs (key opinion leaders). Dr. Michael Endl will be presenting a study comparing bilateral emmetropic outcomes with EMV to a standard monofocal. Other presentations will cover topics such as the effectiveness of OMIDRIA and the use of RayPRO to improve patient outcomes.

Summary:

Dr Michael Endl (US) reflects on his extensive experience with RayOne EMV. Having successfully implanted RayOne EMV in nearly 100 eyes, Dr Endl notes that the lens has granted patients a wide range of independence from wearing spectacles, encompassing near, intermediate, and distance vision.

Bios:

Dr Michael Endl
Dr Michael Endl is a partner at Fichte, Endl & Elmer Eyecare. He is also head of ophthalmology at Ambulatory Surgery Center of Western New York in Niagara Falls, NY and is the Medical Director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Western New York in Amherst. He is an FDA clinical trial investigator and has presented peer-reviewed papers at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) annually since 2001. Dr Endl has also written numerous chapters in books and peer-reviewed medical journals. He has performed over 40,000 refractive surgery procedures, and over the past ten years has expanded his corneal practice to include micro-invasive glaucoma procedures and advanced corneal grafting.

Key Takeaways:

• 100 eyes: Dr Endl has implanted RayOne EMV in nearly 100 eyes since learning about the IOL that was developed with Professor Graham Barrett.
• Patient expectations: Dr Endl believes that in modern society, patients are increasingly demanding a better range of vision, but without compromise.
• Broader range of spectacle independence: Dr Endl recommends using RayOne EMV by targeting the dominant eye first for optimal distance vision, before operating on the second eye two weeks later. The period in-between bilateral implantation allows patients to provide feedback on their vision, which allows surgeons to determine the appropriate correction for the second eye, to achieve the desired visual outcome. If the patient needs some range inside of 20 inches, Dr Endl targets the non-dominant eye with -0.75 to -1.0 D.
• Surgeons new to RayOne EMV: Dr Endl recommends using RayOne EMV at plano for the dominant eye, and a small minus for the non-dominant eye.
• Contrast sensitivity: Dr Endl refers to a real-world patient satisfaction survey submitted to the ASCRS, with 30 patients implanted with RayOne EMV compared to 30 patients with a standard monofocal lens – the results showed no difference in reported contrast sensitivity.
• Patient satisfaction: Dr Endl explains that patient satisfaction with RayOne EMV for intermediate and near activities, when compared with a standard monofocal lens, is almost double. Dr Endl’s patient satisfaction survey also showed no increase in visual noise or difficulty with nighttime driving.
• Counselling patients: Dr Endl offers three package options for his patients, including tier 1: monovision, tier 2: enhanced monovision (where RayOne EMV is his lens of choice) and tier 3: Trifocal IOL.

Connect with Dr Endl on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-endl-a8a1465b/

Summary:

Mr Allon Barsam (UK) engages in a discussion with Dr Eric Donnenfeld (US) and Eric T’Scharner regarding the crucial role of surgical instruments in the success of eye surgery. During their conversation, they explore the emergence of a new player in the instrument industry, HASA Optix, which aims to provide surgeons with innovative solutions without compromising on quality. Notably, HASA Optix also focuses on reducing the environmental impact of eye surgery.

Bios:

Mr Allon Barsam (host)
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision in the UK. He specialises in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses, corneal transplantation, and keratoconus management.

Dr Eric Donnenfeld (guest)
Dr Eric Donnenfeld is an internationally recognised expert and pioneer in refractive, cornea and cataract surgery and one of the leading refractive and cataract surgeons in the United States.  He has won numerous awards, including being named Newsweek’s best ophthalmologist in America in both 2022 and 2021.

Mr Eric T’Scharner (guest)
Eric T’Scharner is Chief ‘Everything’ Officer (CEO) at HASA Optix, a start-up surgical instrument company based in Belgium that develops sustainable premium single use instruments for ophthalmic surgery.

Key Takeaways:

HASA OPTIX is a Belgium based medical device company and manufacturer of premium-quality, recyclable, single-use ophthalmic surgical instruments.

Dr Donnenfeld believes that HASA OPTIX provides ‘absolutely the best instruments’ that he has used ‘in his entire career’, recommending them over reusable instruments for the following reasons:

• Premium quality– The level of precision and accuracy with which HASA OPTIX constucts their instruments provides a quality standard equivalent to reusable instruments. The panel agrees that this can improve the reliability of surgeries, reduce the risk of complications, and provide patients with the quality outcomes they want from surgery.
• Improved accuracy: Dr Donnenfeld references microforceps and explains ‘The quality of the HASA microforceps are actually better than the ones that I use that are reusable !’  Assuring surgeons that the instruments ‘meet your needs’ to ‘provide the feel in the OR that goes towards you being a competent surgeon.’
• Lower cost: Eric T’Scharner explains that disposable instruments are actually more cost-effective versus reusable instruments since they eliminate the need for expensive sterilisation equipment and associated procedures. A further review will be published this year (2023) comparing in detail the overall cost and carbon footprint of disposable versus reusable instrumentation.
• Increased efficiency: Switching to single-use instruments means that the right tools are always readily available to accomplish the right goals, leads to better organization in the OR, less stress for the surgeons and staff, and can lower the risk of infections.

Connect with Mr Allon Barsam on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/

Connect with Dr Donnenfeld on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-donnenfeld-98b6a168

Connect with Eric T’Scharner on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-t-scharner-172ab917/

Summary:

Mr Allon Barsam (UK) engages in a discussion with Dr Eric Donnenfeld (US) and Eric T’Scharner regarding the crucial role of surgical instruments in the success of eye surgery. During their conversation, they explore the emergence of a new player in the instrument industry, HASA Optix, which aims to provide surgeons with innovative solutions without compromising on quality. Notably, HASA Optix also focuses on reducing the environmental impact of eye surgery.

Bios:

Mr Allon Barsam (host)
Mr. Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision in the UK. He specialises in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses, corneal transplantation, and keratoconus management.

Dr Eric Donnenfeld (guest)
Dr Eric Donnenfeld is an internationally recognised expert and pioneer in refractive, cornea and cataract surgery and one of the leading refractive and cataract surgeons in the United States.  He has won numerous awards, including being named Newsweek’s best ophthalmologist in America in both 2022 and 2021.

Mr Eric T’Scharner (guest)
Eric T’Scharner is Chief ‘Everything’ Officer (CEO) at HASA Optix, a start-up surgical instrument company based in Belgium that develops sustainable premium single use instruments for ophthalmic surgery.

Key Takeaways:

HASA OPTIX is a Belgium based medical device company and manufacturer of premium-quality, recyclable, single-use ophthalmic surgical instruments.

Dr Donnenfeld believes that HASA OPTIX provides ‘absolutely the best instruments’ that he has used ‘in his entire career’, recommending them over reusable instruments for the following reasons:

• Premium quality– The level of precision and accuracy with which HASA OPTIX constucts their instruments provides a quality standard equivalent to reusable instruments. The panel agrees that this can improve the reliability of surgeries, reduce the risk of complications, and provide patients with the quality outcomes they want from surgery.
• Improved accuracy: Dr Donnenfeld references microforceps and explains ‘The quality of the HASA microforceps are actually better than the ones that I use that are reusable !’  Assuring surgeons that the instruments ‘meet your needs’ to ‘provide the feel in the OR that goes towards you being a competent surgeon.’
• Lower cost: Eric T’Scharner explains that disposable instruments are actually more cost-effective versus reusable instruments since they eliminate the need for expensive sterilisation equipment and associated procedures. A further review will be published this year (2023) comparing in detail the overall cost and carbon footprint of disposable versus reusable instrumentation.
• Increased efficiency: Switching to single-use instruments means that the right tools are always readily available to accomplish the right goals, leads to better organization in the OR, less stress for the surgeons and staff, and can lower the risk of infections.

Connect with Mr Allon Barsam on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/

Connect with Dr Donnenfeld on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-donnenfeld-98b6a168

Connect with Eric T’Scharner on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-t-scharner-172ab917/

Summary:

Professor Gerd Auffarth (Germany) and Dr Nino Hirnschall (Austria) discuss the importance of biometry considerations. They explore the reliability and selection of biometric devices, considering various options. The conversation focuses on the evolution of biometric measurements for IOL calculation, moving beyond basic parameters to more detailed and specific eye measurements. The surgeons also examine the question of whether advanced technologies are foolproof and highlight potential challenges that can still occur despite using the latest, most advanced technology.

Bios:

Prof Gerd Auffarth (host)
Professor Gerd Auffarth is one of the world’s leading intraocular lens experts. He is a Chairman of The Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, and the Head of the David J. Apple Center for Vision Research. He also serves as the Director of the IVCRC. In 2018, Gerd ranked second in the The Ophthalmologist’s Powerlist of the World’s Top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology.

Dr Nino Hirnschall (guest)
Dr Nino Hirnschall is an internationally renowned expert in biometry and a surgical consultant at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria. He completed his training in Vienna at the Hanusch Hospital and has worked in many clinics across the UK and Australia.

Key Takeaways:

• For Prof Auffarth and Dr Hirnschall, there is no longer a gold standard for biometry. In order to obtain accurate measurements, multiple measurements must be taken with several devices and compared, and the medical history of the patient must be taken into consideration.
• Biometry has changed over the years from a simple calculation of a lens to a comprehensive diagnostic system.
• Swept-source OTCs currently provide the most advanced, quality measurements because they allow you to have a bright, sharp image.
• Hirnschall believes that the main source of error for biometry calculations today is the prediction of the position of the lens, but new more modern formulas such as the EVO formula, the Kane Formula, and the Barrett Formula are producing better results.

Connect with Prof Gerd Auffarth on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-med-gerd-u-auffarth-febo-a935794/

Connect with Dr Hirnschall on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nino-hirnschall-565b9015a/

Summary:

German professors Gerd Auffarth and Martin Dirisamer discuss the essential aspects of implanting Toric IOLs, condensing hours of discussion into one podcast episode. They cover crucial topics, including patient identification, accurate measurements, optimal incision placement, marking system selection, and effective IOL rotation management. Additionally, they explore toric IOL materials, designs, and discuss current market models.

Bios:

Prof Gerd Auffarth (host)
Professor Gerd Auffarth is one of the world’s leading intraocular lens experts. He is a Chairman of The Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, and the Head of the David J. Apple Center for Vision Research. He also serves as the Director of the IVCRC. In 2018, Gerd ranked second in the The Ophthalmologist’s Powerlist of the World’s Top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology.

Prof Martin Dirisamer (guest)
Professor Martin Dirisamer is a cataract surgery specialist at Dirisamer Luft Priglinger practice in Linz, Austria. He has achieved numerous awards for various lectures and posters, and was recognised as one of the 40 most influential ophthalmologists worldwide by The Ophthalmologist magazine.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr Dirisamer advises that surgeons should keep in mind that approximately 30% of cataract patients have more than 1 dioptre of corneal astigmatism and are therefore suitable for a toric IOL – proper measurements are therefore essential.
• Dr Dirisamer reveals that he doesn’t 100% trust his IOL Master or Pentacam, explaining the studies which support the diagnostic masters can be conflicting.

Summarising the Dos & Don’ts:

DOs:

• Dr Dirisamer recommends to not rush the pre-operative assessment and repeat measurements for certainty. The accurate measurement of corneal astigmatism is essential for proper IOL selection and placement. Use high-quality diagnostic equipment to measure corneal astigmatism and determine the correct power and axis for the toric IOL.
• To ensure accurate measurements, Dr Dirisamer advises patients to stop wearing contact lenses before the corneal astigmatism measurements are taken as contact lenses can temporarily alter the shape of the cornea, which can in turn affect the accuracy of measurements. Soft contact lenses should be discontinued for two weeks prior to biometric measurements, whereas rigid gas permeable / hard lenses should be discontinued for at least three weeks.
• Dr Dirisamer selects toric IOLs for patients with at least 1 dioptre of astigmatism. He explains that manufacturers usually have a quarter of dioptre steps and provide training and education on how to properly manage them.
• Accurately marking the cornea is essential for proper IOL alignment and Dr Dirisamer recommends having knowledge and experience with ink marking. Dr Dirisamer suggests using a marker designed specifically for marking the cornea and double-check the markings before proceeding with surgery.
• Prof Auffarth believes that the success of toric lenses started with ink marking to guide the alignment of the toric IOL and explains that it is still a valuable tool in their successful implantation, particularly in cases where other technologies may not be available or appropriate.
• The surgeons agree on the importance of following established surgical techniques and guidelines for IOL implantation to minimise the risk of complications such as infection or damage to surrounding tissues.
• The RayOne Toric IOL has a closed C-loop haptic with a specific design that prevents it from rotation and also from shrinkage when you have a capsular contracture due to fibrosis.

DON’Ts:

• Rush the pre-operative assessment: Take the time to accurately assess the patient’s corneal astigmatism and IOL needs. Rushing this process can result in improper IOL selection and placement, leading to poor visual outcomes.
• Misalign the toric IOL: Proper alignment of the toric IOL is critical for optimal visual outcomes. Misalignment can lead to blurred or distorted vision.

Additional Resources:

See the full line up of Rayner Toric IOLs here:
https://rayner.com/en/iol/toric/

Connect with Prof Gerd Auffarth on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-med-gerd-u-auffarth-febo-a935794/

Connect with Prof Dirisamer on LinkedIn and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-martin-dirisamer-b2281667/
https://www.instagram.com/martindirisamer/

Summary:

Professor Gerd Auffarth (Germany) explores IOL materials with Dr Ben LaHood (Australia). Together, they dive into the widespread debate surrounding hydrophobic and hydrophilic lenses and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each, including material opacification and glistenings.

Bios:

Prof Gerd Auffarth (host)
Professor Gerd Auffarth is one of the world’s leading intraocular lens experts. He is a Chairman of The Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, and the Head of the David J. Apple Center for Vision Research. He also serves as the Director of the IVCRC.  In 2018, Gerd ranked second in the The Ophthalmologist’s Powerlist of the World’s Top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology.

Dr Ben LaHood (guest)
Dr Ben LaHood is a world-renowned expert in refractive cataract and laser vision correction surgery. His research focusing on astigmatism management and biometry is frequently published and presented worldwide. Ben also hosts two popular ophthalmic podcasts.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr LaHood has been using hydrophilic IOLs for a decade and has not reported significant issues relating to opacification.
• Prof Auffarth believes it’s ‘completely unfair’ to brand a category of IOLs negatively, especially hydrophilic IOLs in association with opacification when cases are so rare.
• Dr LaHood highlights the importance of patient selection, and explains how surgeons can minimise the risk of opacification by discussing the elimination process of patients considered high risk.
• Dr LaHood believes the key advantages of hydrophilic IOLs overcome the small risk of opacification. The key benefits of hydrophilic IOLs include their foldability, biocompatibility, variety of optical designs, and lack of glistenings.

Connect with Prof Gerd Auffarth on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-med-gerd-u-auffarth-febo-a935794/

Connect with Dr Ben LaHood on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-lahood-99232a193/
https://www.instagram.com/drbenlahood/
https://twitter.com/benlahood

Summary:

Dr Roger Zaldivar, Dr Filomena Ribeiro and Dr Joaquín Fernández Pérez gather at the 25th congress at FacoElche in Spain to discuss the key takeaways from Rayner’s clinical symposium on ‘Optical Quality & Patient Satisfaction’, and interesting and exciting trends covered at this year’s event. 

Bios:

Dr Filomena Ribeiro (guest)
Dr Filomena Ribeiro is the head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hospital da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal and a member of the executive board of the ESCRS.

Dr Roger Zaldivar (guest)
Dr Roger Zaldivar is the CEO of the Instituto Zaldivar in Mendoza Argentina and the past-president of the Refractive Surgery Alliance. He is also the founder of Revai, a collaborative medical platform with the goal of transforming current medicine by improving every day processes.

Dr Joaquín Fernández Pérez (guest)
Dr Joaquín Fernández Pérez is the CEO and Medical Director of the Ophthalmology Department at Qvisión in Vithas Virgen del Mar Hospital in Spain. His research has been published in many national and international journals and has presented at many ophthalmology congresses worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• 2023 trends from FacoElche include the improvement of diagnostics and the explosion of options with regard to IOL technology and software for patients.
• Ribeiro is confident that there is always a solution to addressing presbyopia in cataract surgery if you manage patient expectations correctly and choose the right IOL.
• Zaldivar finds the RayOne EMV IOL very useful in his practice, allowing him to provide patients with more spectacle independence and functional vision in their daily activities.
• Fernández Pérez looks forward to the use of big collaborative data.
• For Dr Zaldivar, Rayner’s RayPRO+ app facilitates tracking patient-reported outcomes and organizing data in a comprehensive way.

Additional Resources:

RayOne EMV and EMV Toric
https://rayner.com/EMV

Rayner RayPRO+
https://rayner.com/raypro/

Connect with Dr Roger Zaldivar on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerzaldivar/
https://twitter.com/RogZaldivar
https://www.instagram.com/rogzald/

Connect with Dr Filomena Ribeiro on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/filomena-ribeiro-md-phd-febo-5aa13b71/

Connect with Dr Joaquín Fernández Pérez on Instagram:
Joaquín Fernández Pérez (@joaquinfernandezoft) • Instagram photos and videos

Summary:

Mr Allon Barsam, along with his colleagues from OCL Vision (UK), engage in a discussion highlighting the significance of comprehensive management of dry eye disease, both before and after surgery. Ms Purvi Thomson, Lead Optometrist at OCL Vision, and Ms Caoimhe McGovern, Specialist Optometrist at OCL Vision participate in the conversation. They shed light on the profound effects dry eye disease can have on biometry, visual outcomes, and ultimately patient satisfaction.

Bios:

Mr Allon Barsam (host)
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision, and recognised internationally as an expert and key opinion leader for cataract and refractive surgery.

Ms Purvi Thomson (guest)
Ms Purvi Thomson is Lead Optometrist at OCL Vision in London, where she utilises her expertise and specialist training to deal with various eye conditions, including dry eye disease.

Ms Caoimhe McGovern (guest)
Ms Caoimhe McGovern is a Specialist Optometrist at OCL Vision, where she carries out pre-operative assessments and post-operative consultations for refractive and cataract surgery patients.

Key Takeaways:

• Dry eye disease can impact surgical outcomes and consequently patient satisfaction.
• Many patients experience symptoms without realising they are caused by dry eye disease.
• It is important to treat patient’s dry eye disease pre-surgery and educate them on the on-going management to avoid compromised outcomes.
• If poor tear film caused by dry eye disease is not treated pre-surgery, it can result in an incorrect choice of IOL power, leading to patient dissatisfaction.
• Treatment options for dry eye disease include AEON PROTECT PLUS eye drops which are indicated for use before and after surgery. The eyedrops contain cross-linked sodium hyaluronate which results in longer lasting lubrication of the eye’s surface than non-cross-linked sodium hyaluronate.
• Accurately managing patients with dry eye disease is critical to achieving good outcomes in refractive, cataract and intraocular surgery.

Additional Resources:

AEON eye drops
https://aeoneyedrops.com/

Connect with Mr Allon Barsam on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/

Connect with Ms Purvi Thomson on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/purvi-thomson-791678192/

Connect with Ms Caoimhe McGovern on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caoimhe-mc-govern-030a32112/

Summary:

Mr Allon Barsam, together with his colleagues from OCL Vision (UK), Mr Ali Mearza, Mr Romesh Angunawela, and Ms Masara Laginaf, delve into the significant role of digital marketing and social media in effectively managing a busy eye clinic. In an era where our online presence consumes a substantial portion of our daily lives, digital marketing serves as a crucial tool for educating patients and aiding them in selecting the most suitable eye surgeon or clinic.

Bios:

Mr Allon Barsam (host)
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision, and recognised internationally as an expert and key opinion leader for cataract and refractive surgery.

Mr Ali Mearza (guest)
Mr Ali Mearza is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision. He is also a senior consultant ophthalmic surgeon at London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Mr Romesh Angunawela (guest)
Mr Romesh Angunawela is an OCL Vision founding partner and consultant eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital where he is also Director for corneal training.

Ms Masara Laginaf (guest)
Ms Masara Laginaf is a consultant eye surgeon specialising in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery, and is the first OCL Vision trained fellow of refractive surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• Recruiting new clients is often by word of mouth, however social media has proved to be useful for brand development and reinforcing the patients’ decision.
• The panel of surgeons advise managing multiple social channels, instead of just one to reach a higher audience and demographic.
• It is important to have a well-designed and easy-to-navigate website which presents a clinic’s services clearly, including pricing information.
• Surgeons can also use social media for their own personal promotion, for example by highlighting patients they’ve treated or by sharing educational tools such as surgical methods or new innovations. It also gives patients the opportunity to interact with them.
• Treating influencers can play a large role in boosting a clinic’s exposure online organically.
• For surgeons looking to build a social media profile, the panel’s advice is to just get started. Once a profile is created, a user can view trending topics to generate ideas for content. Creativity is key.

Connect with Mr Allon Barsam on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/

Connect with Mr Ali Mearza on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimearza/
https://twitter.com/AliMearza
https://www.instagram.com/alimearza/

Connect with Mr Romesh Angunawela on LinkedIn and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyesurgeon/
https://www.instagram.com/laser_eyesurgeon_london/

Connect with Ms Masara Laginaf on LinkedIn and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/masara-laginaf-a9876a134/
https://www.instagram.com/dr_masaralaginaf/

Summary:

US surgeons, Dr Eric Donnenfeld and Dr Jerry Hu, engage in a conversation regarding their billing packages for RayOne EMV. They discuss their approach of offering the enhanced monofocal IOL to patients without additional charges, despite the classification of the lens as non-premium by the centres for Medicare and Medicaid services.  

Bios:

Dr Eric Donnenfeld (guest)
Dr Eric Donnenfeld is an internationally recognised expert and pioneer in refractive, cornea and cataract surgery and one of the leading refractive and cataract surgeons in the United States.  He has won numerous awards, including being named Newsweek’s best ophthalmologist in America in both 2022 and 2021.

Dr Jerry Hu (guest)
Dr Jerry Hu is a leading private practitioner in the United States with a keen interest in academic and clinical research endeavors. He has extensive experience in the treatment of cataract, refractive surgeries, corneal diseases, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eyes, and other ocular diseases. He is widely published in various fields of ophthalmic research and is a frequent lecturer and speaker at many national and regional conferences.

Key Takeaways:

• RayOne EMV is considered a non-premium lens by CMS in the United States, which means that surgeons cannot bill patients directly for this IOL.
• Dr Donnenfeld does not charge patients for the RayOne EMV lens; instead, it is included in his ‘Limbal Relaxing Incision for Pre-Existing Astigmatism’ billing package.
• In his ‘Smart Vision’ billing package, Dr Hu stays within regulations by combining the RayOne EMV with ORA intraoperative wavefront aberrometry to give his patients monovision and to correct their astigmatism.
• Dr Donnenfeld’s lens of choice for his ‘Refractive’ billing package — and for his practice — is RayOne EMV because he believes that it gives patients the most value: quality distance and intermediate vision.
• Since implanting RayOne EMV, Dr Hu has not had any patients complain about having decreased quality of vision, and the data suggests that all of his RayOne EMV patients have great distance vision.

Additional Resources:

RayOne EMV Billing Testimonial feat. Dr Eric Donnenfeld (USA) and Dr Jerry Hu (USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1SEofKhIWY

RayOne EMV and TECNIS Eyhance: A Comparative Clinical Defocus Curve
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/166.-RayOne-EMV-White-Paper.pdf

RayOne EMV: First Clinical Results
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/161.-RayOne-EMV-First-Clinical-Results.pdf

Find out more about RayOne EMV:

RayOne EMV
www.rayner.com/EMV

Connect with Dr Donnenfeld on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-donnenfeld-98b6a168

Summary:

Mr Paul Rosen (UK) highlights some of the key insights from a Rayner webinar with Mr Allon Barsam (UK) and Mr Andrew Turnbull (UK). The panel discuss why RayOne EMV has become their go-to lens; how RayOne EMV compares to trifocal IOLs; how to master monovision, and how to effectively manage the RayOne EMV patient pre-operative conversation. 

Bios:

Mr Paul Rosen (host)
Mr Paul Rosen is a consultant ophthalmologist at Oxford Eye Hospital who specialises in cataract surgery, glaucoma and retinal and refractive surgery. He is chairman of the trustees of the ESCRS, a trustee of UKISCRS, and a medical editor of EuroTimes.

Mr Andrew Turnbull (guest)
Mr Andrew Turnbull is an ophthalmic consultant who runs a private clinic and is also the NHS clinical lead for cataract surgery in Bournemouth. He specialises in laser vision correction, cataract and lens replacement surgery, anterior segment surgery including iris reconstruction and pterygium surgery, as well as comprehensive medical eye care including blepharitis and dry eye disease.

Mr Allon Barsam (guest)
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision in London, England. He specialises in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses, corneal transplantation, and keratoconus management.

Key Takeaways:

• RayOne EMV is a lens that induces positive spherical aberration, and in doing so, helps to extend depth of focus.
• RayOne EMV consultations are typically shorter, especially when compared with a trifocal IOL consultation.
• Natural quality of vision is where there is a natural range of vision and the RayOne EMV provides this.

 Additional Resources:

Premium IOL Webinar: Managing the Patient Pre-op Conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DqiNkVNzT0&t=314s

RayOne EMV A New Direction in Presbyopia Correction
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/RayOne-EMV_-A-New-Direction-in-Presbyopia-Correction.pdf

Rayner ESCRS 2022 Symposium: challenges in cataract surgery and advanced technology IOLs
https://youtu.be/FJzV9Grwshk

How to choose the right presbyopia correction solution for your patients
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/169.CRSTE-Rayner-Presbyopia-Correction-Supplement-APRIL-2021.pdf

Mr Turnbull shares experience with RayOne EMV
https://youtu.be/7wfcCzafsoY

Find out more about RayOne EMV and Trifocal IOLs.

RayOne EMV
https://rayner.com/EMV

Rayner trifocal IOLs
https://rayner.com/trifocal

Connect with Mr Rosen, Mr. Turnbull and Mr Barsam:

Mr Rosen on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-rosen-6961503/

Mr Turnbull on Linkedin and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-turnbull-eye-surgeon
https://twitter.com/the_iSurgeon

Mr Barsam on Linkedin, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam

Summary:

Mr Paul Rosen (UK) highlights some of the key insights from a Rayner webinar with Mr Allon Barsam (UK) and Mr Andrew Turnbull (UK). The panel discuss why RayOne EMV has become their go-to lens; how RayOne EMV compares to trifocal IOLs; how to master monovision, and how to effectively manage the RayOne EMV patient pre-operative conversation. 

Bios:

Mr Paul Rosen (host)
Mr Paul Rosen is a consultant ophthalmologist at Oxford Eye Hospital who specialises in cataract surgery, glaucoma and retinal and refractive surgery. He is chairman of the trustees of the ESCRS, a trustee of UKISCRS, and a medical editor of EuroTimes.

Mr Andrew Turnbull (guest)
Mr Andrew Turnbull is an ophthalmic consultant who runs a private clinic and is also the NHS clinical lead for cataract surgery in Bournemouth. He specialises in laser vision correction, cataract and lens replacement surgery, anterior segment surgery including iris reconstruction and pterygium surgery, as well as comprehensive medical eye care including blepharitis and dry eye disease.

Mr Allon Barsam (guest)
Mr Allon Barsam is a director and founding partner of OCL Vision in London, England. He specialises in laser eye surgery, lens-based vision correction surgery, cataract surgery with premium lenses, corneal transplantation, and keratoconus management.

Key Takeaways:

• RayOne EMV is a lens that induces positive spherical aberration, and in doing so, helps to extend depth of focus.
• RayOne EMV consultations are typically shorter, especially when compared with a trifocal IOL consultation.
• Natural quality of vision is where there is a natural range of vision and the RayOne EMV provides this.

 Additional Resources:

Premium IOL Webinar: Managing the Patient Pre-op Conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DqiNkVNzT0&t=314s

RayOne EMV A New Direction in Presbyopia Correction
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/RayOne-EMV_-A-New-Direction-in-Presbyopia-Correction.pdf

Rayner ESCRS 2022 Symposium: challenges in cataract surgery and advanced technology IOLs
https://youtu.be/FJzV9Grwshk

How to choose the right presbyopia correction solution for your patients
https://rayner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/169.CRSTE-Rayner-Presbyopia-Correction-Supplement-APRIL-2021.pdf

Mr Turnbull shares experience with RayOne EMV
https://youtu.be/7wfcCzafsoY 

Find out more about RayOne EMV and Trifocal IOLs.

RayOne EMV
https://rayner.com/EMV

Rayner trifocal IOLs
https://rayner.com/trifocal

Connect with Mr Rosen, Mr. Turnbull and Mr Barsam:

Mr Rosen on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-rosen-6961503/

Mr Turnbull on Linkedin and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-turnbull-eye-surgeon
https://twitter.com/the_iSurgeon

Mr Barsam on Linkedin, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allon-barsam-b533b45/
https://www.instagram.com/allonbarsam/
https://twitter.com/AllonBarsam

Summary:

Dr Karl Stonecipher (US) meets with Professor Graham Barrett (Australia), to learn more about his partnership with Rayner, developing RayOne EMV. Their conversation delves into the concept behind RayOne EMV, the incorporation of positive spherical aberration to enhance depth of focus, the process of patient selection, and the lens’ applicability for a wide range of patients.

Bios:

Dr Karl Stonecipher (host)
Dr Karl Stonecipher is the medical director of TLC Greensboro in North Carolina and a clinical associate professor of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina. Dr Stonecipher has over 100 abstracts, articles, and book chapters published, and speaks both nationally and internationally on refractive, cataract, presbyopic and refractive surgery.

Prof Graham Barrett (guest)
Professor Graham Barrett is a consultant ophthalmologist at the Lions Eye Institute as well as Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth Western Australia and is a clinical professor in the University Department of Ophthalmology of Western Australia. His special areas of interest include cataract and implant surgery, as well as corneal and keratorefractive surgery. Professor Barrett is also the founding and current President of AUSCRS.

Key Takeaways:

• RayOne EMV uses positive spherical aberration which interacts synergistically with myopia to give an extended range of vision without impacting distance vision.
• Professor Barrett discovered that using positive spherical aberration with myopia achieves a better quality of vision.
• If surgeons are unsure about using RayOne EMV on a patient, Professor Barrett suggests checking the amount of spherical aberration in the eye and being cautious if it nears +0.3 to +0.4 microns.
• Professor Barrett believes the RayOne EMV lens is suitable for almost anyone.
• Today, many patients are more concerned with being spectacle free for intermediate vision, so that they can use their smart phones and tablets.

Additional Resources:

My Next Ophthalmologist Needs No Introduction: Ep 2 with Prof Barrett
https://youtu.be/_ktxkqZ6YM0

The Best of Both Worlds by Professor Graham D Barrett
https://youtu.be/ltKMxblVASI

Find out more about RayOne EMV

RayOne EMV
www.rayner.com/EMV

Bios:

Dr Lisa Nijm (host)
Dr. Lisa Nijm is a corneal, cataract, refractive surgeon, licensed attorney, & clinical professor at UIC Eye and Ear Infirmary. She serves as CEO of Women in Ophthalmology, where she has led the organization to exponential growth. Dr. Nijm has repeatedly been ranked as one of the most influential ophthalmologists worldwide, including The Ophthalmologist’s Power List, Newsweek’s America’s Best Ophthalmologists, and Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors.

Dr Stefanie Schmickler (guest)
Dr Stefanie Schmickler is a cataract and refractive surgeon and managing director of the Augen-Zentrum-Nordwest in Ahaus, Germany, one of the largest specialist clinics in the region with 11 locations and over 250 employees. Dr Schmickler is also editor of CONCEPT Ophthalmology and board member of OcuNet (www.ocunet.de).

Dr Josefina Botta (guest)
Dr Josefina Botta is an ophthalmologist at Consultorios Botta Ruiz in Buenos Aires, Argentina and an undergraduate and postgraduate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Maimonides, specialising in Cornea and Anterior Segment.  She is also secretary of the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology and Vice president of the Argentine Society of Cornea, Refractive and Cataract surgery.

Summary:

Dr Lisa Nijm (US), Dr Stefanie Schmickler (Germany) and Dr Josefina Botta (Argentina) explore female leadership in ophthalmology and championing women in the operating room. Together, they share their leadership journeys, offer advice about growing a business, and also discuss the skill sets required for being a successful surgeon.

Key Takeaways:

• It is important to elevate the patient experience as much as possible so that when they come out of their cataract journey, not only do patients have great vision but they also feel that they’ve been well taken care of as a person.
• In the age of digital marketing, it is important to communicate with patients through social media.
• Manufacturers have an important role in bringing surgeons together so that they can network and share information.
• The pandemic has led to a new hybrid approach to learning and networking. There are some intangibles that happen when you’re in person with other like-minded surgeons, but it is also valuable to have information quickly online and to be able to connect with surgeons from all over the world at all times.

Connect with Dr Nijm, Dr Schmickler and Dr Botta:

Dr Nijm on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisanijm
https://www.instagram.com/RealWorldOphthalmologymdnegotiation
https://twitter.com/LisaNijmMDJDlisanijmmdjd

Dr Schmickler on LinkedIn and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stefanie-schmickler-7523878a
https://www.instagram.com/stefanieschmickler

Dr Botta on Instagram and LinkedIn:
https://www.instagram.com/drajosefinabotta

Bios:

Dr Lisa Nijm (host)
Dr. Lisa Nijm is a corneal, cataract, refractive surgeon, licensed attorney, & clinical professor at UIC Eye and Ear Infirmary. She serves as CEO of Women in Ophthalmology, where she has led the organization to exponential growth. Dr. Nijm has repeatedly been ranked as one of the most influential ophthalmologists worldwide, including The Ophthalmologist’s Power List, Newsweek’s America’s Best Ophthalmologists, and Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors.

Dr Stefanie Schmickler (guest)
Dr Stefanie Schmickler is a cataract and refractive surgeon and managing director of the Augen-Zentrum-Nordwest in Ahaus, Germany, one of the largest specialist clinics in the region with 11 locations and over 250 employees. Dr Schmickler is also editor of CONCEPT Ophthalmology and board member of OcuNet (www.ocunet.de).

Dr Josefina Botta (guest)
Dr Josefina Botta is an ophthalmologist at Consultorios Botta Ruiz in Buenos Aires, Argentina and an undergraduate and postgraduate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Maimonides, specialising in Cornea and Anterior Segment.  She is also secretary of the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology and Vice president of the Argentine Society of Cornea, Refractive and Cataract surgery.

Summary:

Dr Lisa Nijm (US), Dr Stefanie Schmickler (Germany) and Dr Josefina Botta (Argentina) explore female leadership in ophthalmology and championing women in the operating room. Together, they share their leadership journeys, offer advice about growing a business, and also discuss the skill sets required for being a successful surgeon.

Key Takeaways:

• It is important to elevate the patient experience as much as possible so that when they come out of their cataract journey, not only do patients have great vision but they also feel that they’ve been well taken care of as a person.
• In the age of digital marketing, it is important to communicate with patients through social media.
• Manufacturers have an important role in bringing surgeons together so that they can network and share information.
• The pandemic has led to a new hybrid approach to learning and networking. There are some intangibles that happen when you’re in person with other like-minded surgeons, but it is also valuable to have information quickly online and to be able to connect with surgeons from all over the world at all times.

Connect with Dr Nijm, Dr Schmickler and Dr Botta:

Dr Nijm on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisanijm
https://www.instagram.com/RealWorldOphthalmologymdnegotiation
https://twitter.com/LisaNijmMDJDlisanijmmdjd

Dr Schmickler on LinkedIn and Instagram:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stefanie-schmickler-7523878a
https://www.instagram.com/stefanieschmickler

Dr Botta on Instagram and LinkedIn:
https://www.instagram.com/drajosefinabotta

Summary:
Dr Lisa Nijm (US) and Dr Paul Singh (US) discuss the changing landscape of clinical education in ophthalmology. The surgeons consider how alternative media such as webinars and podcasts are becoming the preferred method of education among young ophthalmologists, and how educational platforms such as Rayner’s Peer2Peer are connecting surgeons across the world.

Bios:

Dr Lisa Nijm (host)
Dr. Lisa Nijm is a corneal, cataract, refractive surgeon, licensed attorney, & clinical professor at UIC Eye and Ear Infirmary. She serves as CEO of Women in Ophthalmology, where she has led the organization to exponential growth. Dr. Nijm has repeatedly been ranked as one of the most influential ophthalmologists worldwide, including The Ophthalmologist’s Power List, Newsweek’s America’s Best Ophthalmologists, and Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors.

Dr Paul Singh (guest)
Dr Singh is a glaucoma specialist and the president of The Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha Ltd. in Wisconsin. His clinical research has been published and presented at various national meetings and universities around the world. Dr. Singh was also named America’s Best Eye Doctor in 2021 by Newsweek.

Key Takeaways:

• Listening to podcasts such as Rayner’s ‘Peer2Peer: The Podcast’ is an easy and excellent way to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of ophthalmology and gain knowledge from your peers.
• The new generation of young ophthalmologists are turning more towards alternative media such as webinars and podcasts for education.
• Digital learning is connecting ophthalmologists from around the world and offering new possibilities for sharing information.
• For Dr Nijm, the future of ophthalmology education is hybrid and young surgeons should take advantage of digital platforms to obtain education throughout the year while also attending congresses to benefit from in-person time with your peers.
• For Dr Singh, it is important to use new information to evolve your surgical techniques and take better care of your patients. You must never be afraid to try new technology.

Additional Resources:

Dr Singh, President of The Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha, Ltd.
https://amazingeye.com/eye-doctors/inder-paul-singh-m-d/

Dr Nijm, Founder of Real World Ophthalmology
https://www.RealWorldOphthalmology.com

Dr Nijm, CEO, Warrenville EyeCare & LASIK
www.WarrenvilleEyeCare.com 

Find out more about RayOne EMV and OMIDRIA

RayOne EMV
https://rayner.com/EMV

OMIDRIA
https://www.omidriahcp.com

Connect with Dr Nijm and Dr Singh:

Dr Nijm on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisanijm
https://www.instagram.com/RealWorldOphthalmology
https://twitter.com/LisaNijmMDJD

Dr Singh on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-singh-304a363/
https://www.instagram.com/inderpaul_s/
https://twitter.com/ipsingheyedoc