upgrading my or with the ZEISS Quatera 700
Bryan Monson, MD, MBA
Our practice is built upon three key pillars that inform our technology decisions and ensure exceptional patient care: best-in-industry technology, world-class surgical outcomes, and a commitment to industry-leading patient safety.
I applied this disciplined approach when first evaluating the ZEISS QUATERA 700. I closely monitored the chamber stability during the surgery by observing the behavior of the nuclear fragments. I found that there was almost no need for a second instrument to bring pieces to the tip or to protect the posterior capsule as there was no discernible post-occlusion surge. One of the most remarkable aspects was how efficiently the nuclear fragments reengaged the tip with high flow rates. This resulted in a reduction in both the surgical time and the total amount of potentially eye-injuring energy imparted into the eye.
I have used the ZEISS QUATERA 700 in various surgical scenarios, including dense lenses, pseudoexfoliation, nanophthalmos, intra-operative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), weak zonules, and have been impressed by the QUATTRO pump's ability to compensate for incisional leakage.
Seeing how the ZEISS QUATERA 700 performs in demanding surgical situations gave me the confidence to increase vacuum and flow rates to the point where I now use 100% vacuum and higher flow rates relative to my original settings. Even in routine cases, the ZEISS QUATERA 700 provides a layer of stability and safety because I can keep the phaco centered at the pupil margin. With other systems that I've utilized throughout my career, often I redirect nuclear fragments with a second instrument. I noticed almost immediately that I wasn’t chasing fragments with a second instrument with this device. In fact, I have become confident with the predictability such that, in most cases, I no longer use a second instrument. Within several cases, you’ll be able to recognize the fluidics patterns and feel confident adjusting the vacuum and flow rate parameters.
The system's efficiency has reduced my overall phaco time by approximately 50% and decreased the total phaco energy required by 80-90%. In most cases, it is unnecessary to use both a dispersive and cohesive viscoelastic, and a cohesive viscoelastic alone is sufficient. The absence of corneal and sectional haze around the incision on day one is the most significant benefit. The rapid recovery of cornea and vision has been noticeable to both patients and our collaborating optometry colleagues.
Another attractive aspect about the ZEISS QUATERA 700 is that it integrates into the entire ZEISS digital workflow. The newest, most intriguing advancements taking place in lens-based refractive surgery involve the integration of vast amounts of preoperative data. The ZEISS portfolio offers a comprehensive and cohesive system that seamlessly integrates our imaging devices, ZEISS IOLMaster 700 biometrics, and lens selection with ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner, benefitting our patients and team. By using statistical methods, algorithms are now trained to classify and uncover key insights, improving a surgeon's accuracy. Crowdsourcing of outcome data from a growing number of surgeons worldwide further refines outcomes. These insights are then used to make surgical decisions and develop custom surgery plans with next-generation precision outcomes for every patient’s unique eye in our care. In my experience, these advancements are modernizing the field by providing next-level safety and outcomes, leading to more predictable results than ever before. It's undoubtedly one of the great endeavors in the history of surgery.
This ZEISS digital workflow starts with our state-of-the-art imaging suite through to the point of contact in surgery creating what we call a “surgical cockpit.” This allows for live, augmented overlays to assist the surgeon during incision locations, toric alignment, and other surgical steps in real time. Additionally, the system has improved our preoperative time out process by providing case-specific data and a live screen view for the operative team, resulting in enhanced operating room safety.
When we compare intraocular lens surgery to other surgical fields, intraocular lens surgery involves a significant number of variables to consider, which is why instant access to real-time surgical information can make a huge difference. In my opinion, the ZEISS QUATERA 700, as part of the ZEISS Cataract Workflow, truly provides a next-generation surgical experience.
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Cataract and refractive surgeon; Owner, Monson Vision, Logan, Utah
bryan@monsonvision.com
Dr. Monson is a consultant for Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
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