Ellex Medical
Ellex Medical Lasers Pty Ltd, a global leader in ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment technologies, will showcase its proprietary Retinal Rejuvenation Therapy (2RT®) laser at the upcoming European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) meeting in Barcelona, Spain, 5-9 September 2015. The ESCRS will also mark the commercial rollout of 2RT® in Europe.
2RT® – Safe, Effective Retinal Rejuvenation
A non-thermal, nanosecond pulse retinal laser therapy, 2RT® may hold the key to safer and more effective treatment of retinal disease, and has the potential to be the world’s first interventional treatment for early AMD.
Conventional laser-based treatment of retinal disease utilizes pulse durations of between 100 and 200 milliseconds. However, the resulting lesions routinely affect the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the outer retina including the photoreceptors and the inner nuclear layer, causing permanent scarring which creates central visual scotomas, reducing patients’ visual function and adversely affecting color and night vision.1,2 In contrast, the three-nanosecond pulse of 2RT® localizes its injury insult to the RPE cells only, while causing zero thermal damage to the underlying Bruch's membrane and overlying photoreceptors. 2RT® rejuvenates the entire transport mechanism of the retina, improving visual function and reducing disease progression. This breakthrough approach retains the therapeutic effect of laser therapy whilst eliminating the thermal tissue damage inherent in conventional retinal photocoagulation laser treatment.
2RT® at ESCRS
Ellex is pleased to announce that a demonstration of the 2RT® laser will be available at the Ellex exhibit #A02 at the 2015 ESCRS meeting. Additionally, a symposium featuring Professor John Marshall, Frost Professor at University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, will take place on Sunday, 6 September from 1pm as part of the EuroTimes Satellite Education Program. Professor Marshall has spent over 40 years researching the mechanisms underlying age-related, diabetic and inherited retinal disease, and has played a key role in the development of lasers for use in ophthalmic diagnosis and surgery, including 2RT®.
“We look forward to sharing the case studies from early adopters at the ESCRS meeting in Barcelona,” commented Ellex CEO, Tom Spurling. “The 2RT laser will be on display for ophthalmologist customers to inspect at the ESCRS meeting. This represents a major step forward in the commercialization of this breakthrough technology.”
The LEAD Trial
In parallel with the commercial rollout of 2RT® in Europe, research will continue into the long-term effects of 2RT® in early AMD patients in the Laser Intervention in Early AMD (LEAD) trial. Led by Professor Robyn Guymer, MBBS, PhD, FRANZCO, from the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), LEAD is a three-year double-blind, randomized control trial that is investigating the ability of 2RT® to produce bilateral improvements in macular function and appearance in patients with high-risk early AMD. The trial involves six sites and enrolment was completed at 291 patients on 31 March 2015. Three-year results for the complete patient cohort are expected to be released in 2019.
References
1 . Shimura M, Yasuda K, Nakazawa T, Tamai M. Visual dysfunction after panretinal photocoagulation in patients with severe diabetic retinopathy and good vision. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;140:8-15.
2 . Higgins KE, Meyers SM, Jaffe MJ, et al. Temporary loss of foveal contrast sensitivity associated with panretinal photocoagulation. Arch Ophthalmol. 1986;104:997-1003.