ZEISS establishes the patented SMILE technology with 1.5 million laser vision corrections worldwide

Jena/Germany | Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

Today, the Medical Technology business group of ZEISS announced two milestones in refractive technology after the recent completion of 1.5 million treatments with SMILE^® and the production of its 1,000th VisuMax^® femtosecond laser.

“We are delighted that doctors worldwide have applied the minimally invasive laser correction procedure over 1.5 million times for the treatment of ametropia,” says Jim Mazzo, Global President Ophthalmic Devices at Carl Zeiss Meditec. “We offer surgeons one of the most comprehensive portfolios for refractive laser surgery and the production of the 1,000th ZEISS VisuMax^® is another testament to our leadership in this field.”

ZEISS is setting performance benchmarks in corneal surgery with VisuMax^® , the only approved femtosecond laser on the market to treat ametropia using the minimally invasive procedure. The VisuMax^® creates a thin, lenticular disc (lenticule) in the cornea, which is extracted by the surgeon through a small incision in the corneal surface also created by the laser. The virtually intact corneal surface minimizes disruption to the biomechanics of the cornea.

“Procedures and technologies developed by ZEISS help doctors to improve the vision of many people, and we are determined to protect our intellectual property from any infringement,” emphasizes Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. “We firmly believe that the patents we hold are critical and necessary to continue to ensure the quality of SMILE^® in its application and further development.”

With over thirty years of experience in refractive laser technology, ZEISS has successfully launched numerous innovations in the market, boosting a portfolio of 85 patent families, over 240 granted patents – a number that is steadily rising due to ongoing applications. Patents include developments in several areas of corneal femtosecond laser technology, methods to achieve focus quality, patient interface design, shape and sequence of certain laser incisions, and innovative illumination methods.

The basic intellectual property for SMILE^® technology is exclusively owned by ZEISS.

For more information about the latest in ZEISS refractive innovations, visit  www.zeiss.com/meditec.