EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
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April 2013 competitive than other phakic IOLs (although such procedures are paid out-of-pocket in the Philippines and not by insurance). So is the Artisan Aphakia niche really niche? Or might there be more opportunities for this lens in the Philippines and beyond? Jim Simms, director of global sales and marketing for Ophtec, offered some clues. Mr. Simms said Asia is the fastest growing market for the Artisan lens. "In Asia there are a lot of cases—complicated cases—from [many years ago] of surgery," Mr. Simms said. "Five percent of cataract cases done 20 years ago are complicated cases. The only lens that works in these patients is the Artisan lens." He also said it even can be used in cases of aniridia. "Doctors can use the iris-fixation concept to clip the lens to some tissue in the eye," Mr. Simms said. "We only need two pieces someplace in the eye to clip it to. We can work with half an iris, a fourth of an iris, or even a little bit of [other] tissue." In that case, one also could use the Artisan Iris Reconstruction IOL, indicated for correction of iris defects and available in various dioptric powers. In a 2006 study in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, a 50year-old patient with localized traumatic aniridia underwent secondary implantation using an Artisan aphakic lens. It was placed vertically instead of horizontally. Despite having a perforating injury to the cornea that required corneal wound repair, lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy, three months after Artisan implanta- tion, BCVA was 0.9 and there were no complications. A recent Ophtec course in the U.K. was instructive on dealing with complicated cataract cases using Artisan lenses and easily filled up, Mr. Simms said. "We got more than 40 people," Mr. Simms said. "We couldn't get any more into the course [because it was full]. Courses that teach about complications fill up." Dr. Roque said he does not use any Artisan lenses in cases of aniridia or when there are only small portions of the iris remaining. Given that he claims to be only one of two Ophtec-accredited surgeons using the Artisan Aphakia in the Philippines, more awareness of Artisan uses in especially complex cases may be warranted there and elsewhere. EW EW International Editors' note: Dr. Roque has no financial interests related to this article. Mr. Simms has financial interests with Ophtec. Contact information Roque: +632 8282020, manolette.roque@eyerepublic.com.ph Simms: +3150 5251944, j.simms@ophtec.com 2013 V WINTER UPDATE Concepts & Controversies for the Anterior Segment Practice "4$34t"40"XJTIUPUIBOLUIF GPMMPXJOHDPNQBOJFTGPSFYIJCJUJOH BUUIJTZFBSTNFFUJOH Have a favorite app that helps you with business or personal activities? Email stacy@eyeworld.org with the app name and how it helped you. Apps selected will be published in Ophthalmology Business and their submitters will receive a $50 iTunes card. You may be selected for a brief interview. Abbott Medical Optics EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fast Track Marketing Avada Hearing Care Centers Finite Square MbH Bausch + Lomb Send us your favorite APP! 69 Katena Products, Inc. Beaver-Visitec International Modernizing Medicine, Inc. Bio-Tissue, Inc. NexTech Cloud [8] Sixteen TearLab Corp Compulink Business Systems, Inc. VersaSuite Essilor Laboratories of America Vision Associates XXX8JOUFS6QEBUFPSH