Eyeworld

32 | EYEWORLD | SEPTEMBER 2021 Relevant disclosures Bakalash: Beyeonics Surgical Goldberg: Emmecell/ Emmetrope Ophthalmics Litvin: CorNeat Vision Naseri: ForSight VISION6 Slade: None Solberg: Belkin Vision by Liz Hillman Editorial Co-Director 2021 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING ASCRS NEWS hundreds of patients. These donor cells are then combined with magnetic nanoparticles, which coat the cells. The cells are injected into the anterior chamber, and a magnetic patch is worn up to overnight to facilitate localization and integration into the endothelial layer. The first in-human trials outside the U.S. have taken place with two different doses and two different formulations studied. Patients in the research, according to Dr. Goldberg, had end-stage severe corneal edema and after 12 months of follow-up, nine of the 21 patients had a 3 or more line gain in visual acuity. No serious safety issues were reported. The FDA accepted an IND for a Phase 1b clinical trial for up to 18 patients, which has begun in the U.S. Once best dose is identified in this study, Dr. Goldberg said the technology will move to Phase 2. Sharon Bakalash, MD, PhD, described the augmented reality headset being developed by Beyeonics. These systems are based on tech- nology originally designed as head-mounted displays for aviators. She described the current concept of the "surgeon cockpit" designed to comply with both anterior and posterior seg- ment surgery. The headset technology allows the surgeon to bring up pre- and intraoperative informa- tion via side screens on demand, thus enabling more informed decision making in real time. It provides a natural, 3D, immersive display that Innovators General Session continued on page 34 Dr. Slade delivers the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator's Lecture at the 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting. Source: ASCRS S tephen Slade, MD, delivered the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator's Lecture at the Innovators General Session of the 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting, focusing his talk on "Innova- tion for the Rest of Us," the end producers of innovation. "Innovation is the creation of value. Inno- vation doesn't happen unless we pick it up and actually use it. We take a product, process, or someone's idea, innovate it, put it into a prac- tical reality, and truly create more value," Dr. Slade said. A product, device, or technique needs to produce financially to succeed and often is an improvement of something not as good, or "reinvention." "Where I think that I had, and all of us have, the opportunity to create value to innovate is in education," he said, giving several examples from his experience. When Dr. Slade chooses to get involved with a particular technology, he asks the fol- lowing questions: Is it unique, elegant? Does it meet an unmet need and/or have commercial potential? Do I have relevant experience and expertise? Will I enjoy this? Patients play a role in making innovation successful as well, Dr. Slade said, explaining that just because something gets FDA approval doesn't mean it will get real-world approval. "If there is a choice, the patients will guide us," he said. Dr. Slade said being asked to give the Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator's Lecture "couldn't have made me happier." "When I look at the people who have won this award, and we talk about standing on broad shoulders, this is like a freeway of shoulders for us to stand on," Dr. Slade said. "I have so much gratitude and humility." The Innovators General Session also fea- tured five other presentations on innovative advances and technologies. Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, presented on human corneal endothelial cell culture and magnet- ic cell delivery, currently being developed as a treatment for corneal edema. He described the technique being pioneered by Emmecell, in which human corneal endothelial cells are expanded in culture with the potential to benefit

• Blank Page
• Blank Page (1)