ZEISS continues to drive digital era forward in ophthalmology; celebrates 2 million digitally-planned cataract cases in the U.S. alone

Rhea-AI Summary

ZEISS Medical Technology has achieved a significant milestone with over 2 million cataract cases planned using the ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner in the U.S. This digital planning solution has demonstrated up to 60% time savings per eye compared to traditional paper planning.

The company will showcase its innovations at ASCRS 2025 in Los Angeles, including the newly available ZEISS MEL 90 and VISUMAX 800 systems for refractive treatments. The VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro software enables faster treatment, creating lenticules in under 10 seconds with a 2 MHz laser pulse rate.

For the first time, ZEISS will present cataract surgical solutions from its companies DORC and FCI, featuring the DORC EVA NEXUS surgical system and VisionBlue anterior stain, which has been used in over 10 million cataract surgeries. The showcase will also include the FDA-approved Eyejet 20C from Morcher, designed to prevent toric IOL rotation.

Showcasing at ASCRS 2025:

• More than 2 million cases planned with ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner: Growing use of one of the leading digital planning solutions for cataract surgery in the U.S. is a testament to the increased adoption of the ZEISS Cataract Workflow digital solutions by surgeons.
• ZEISS MEL 90 broadens refractive treatment portfolio: U.S. availability of both the ZEISS MEL 90 and ZEISS VISUMAX 800 extends the company's LVC market leadership with treatments for myopia, hyperopia, and mixed astigmatism.
• Enhanced cataract portfolio with DORC and FCI: Showcasing cataract solutions from DORC and FCI for the first time in the ZEISS booth #1501.  

JENA, Germany and DUBLIN, Calif., April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZEISS Medical Technology will celebrate the rapid adoption of digital cataract solutions and showcase newly available refractive treatment technology at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) conference from April 25 – 27 in Los Angeles, CA. ZEISS marks a major milestone in the U.S. with more than 2 million digitally planned cases using the ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner,¹ one of the leading digital planning solutions for cataract surgery, which serves as a testament to the growing number of surgeons discovering the benefits of digital workflows in the delivery of patient care and treatments.

"The digital era continues to grow at a rapid pace. Ophthalmologists are increasingly realizing the significant benefits of using digital workflows as the backbone of their medical practices," says Magnus Reibenspiess, Head of Strategic Business Unit Ophthalmology at ZEISS Medical Technology. "ZEISS has much to celebrate at ASCRS this year, including our continued U.S. leadership in digital innovation and ongoing commitment to improving patient care across both the cataract and refractive markets."

Additionally, the ZEISS Refractive Workflow will showcase for the first time both the VISUMAX^® 800 with SMILE^® pro from ZEISS and the MEL^® 90 from ZEISS, helping to further broaden a surgeon's refractive business with improved patient attraction and positive clinical outcomes. Lastly, for the first time, DORC and FCI, both ZEISS companies, are set to present their portfolio of cataract surgical solutions in the ZEISS booth, showcasing the extended benefits of ZEISS's surgical portfolio.

More than 2 million cases planned using ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner reflects growing digital adoption by U.S. cataract surgeons

ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner is one of the top digital planning solutions for cataract surgery in the U.S. today with thousands of users logging in to plan their surgical cases, pulling data from most modern EMRs, 19 different diagnostic devices, and optional data sources like patient questionnaires, in order to make data-driven informed decisions designed to drive better patient outcomes in clinics and ORs.

At ASCRS, ZEISS will celebrate the significant milestone of its cloud-based ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner, with more than 2 million cases planned. A recent study showed that with the ZEISS Cataract Workflow powered by ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner, surgeons and staff can save up to 60% of their time per eye compared to traditional paper planning.²

Kerry Solomon, MD, from Carolina Eye Care Physicians, one of the creators of VERACITY prior to its acquisition by ZEISS in 2017, says, "Today we're up to 2 million plans, unbelievable! When we first started developing this solution, I absolutely envisioned we'd get to where we are today, and I'm thrilled with where we're at!"

In addition to proven efficiency gains, new research abstracts presented at this year's ASCRS showcase excellent refractive accuracy and clinical outcomes when adopting the ZEISS Cataract Workflow:

1. Steven C. Schallhorn, MD, ABO, will present a clear benefit of reducing postoperative astigmatism by implanting toric IOLs in patients with lower preoperative corneal astigmatism, leveraging cataract outcomes obtained from VERACITY Surgery Planner's database of 50,850 eyes with preoperative corneal astigmatism between 0.75D and 1.50D.
2. Luke Rebenitsch, MD, ABO, will present a comparison of refractive outcomes in a large cohort of 49,057 eyes undergoing cataract surgery with toric IOL implantation where the use of the ZEISS CALLISTO eye system resulted in significant improvements in terms of post-op refractive outcomes compared to a manual marking approach.
3. Kamran M. Riaz, MD, ABO, will present an analysis of the refractive accuracy of two biometers in a cohort of 222 eyes with prior laser vision correction and implantation of toric multifocal IOLs, highlighting the significantly better performance of total keratometry with the IOLMaster 700.

Enhanced refractive treatment portfolio enables a higher standard of refractive patient care with both the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 and ZEISS MEL 90

ZEISS continues to set high standards in refractive patient care in the U.S. with the availability of both the ZEISS VISUMAX 800 and ZEISS MEL 90. For the first time, the ZEISS MEL 90 will be showcased in the U.S. at ASCRS, extending ZEISS's LVC market leadership with treatment for myopia, hyperopia, and mixed astigmatism.

"The FDA approval of the ZEISS MEL 90 excimer laser is a game changer for refractive surgery in the U.S. I am particularly impressed by the system's ability to simplify treatment planning while delivering highly predictable and tissue-conserving results. This approval marks an exciting chapter for surgeons and patients alike," says Dr. John Doane, Refractive Surgeon, Discover Vision Centers, Kansas City, MO (USA).

The MEL^® 90 from ZEISS aims to offer U.S. surgeons a fast, reliable, and streamlined surgery experience, complementing the VISUMAX^® 800 with SMILE^® pro from ZEISS to help further broaden a surgeon's refractive business with improved patient attraction and positive clinical outcomes.

The ZEISS VISUMAX 800 with ZEISS SMILE pro software enables faster treatment, creating the lenticule in less than 10 seconds thanks to a faster laser pulse repetition rate of 2 MHz.³ The ZEISS femtosecond laser also provides greater flexibility for the surgeon and patient, with a smaller footprint and compatibility with a variety of patient beds, adapting to the clinical environment to provide cutting-edge technology without compromise.

Showcasing the benefits of ZEISS's surgical portfolio to help meet the evolving clinical challenges of surgeons in the U.S.

ZEISS will showcase for the first time together in the ZEISS booth key solutions from DORC and FCI.  This will feature the DORC EVA NEXUS^™ surgical system for cataract and phaco-vitrectomy surgeries. It will also include the DORC VisionBlue^® anterior stain, a trusted choice in more than 10 million cataract surgeries since its introduction. As the only FDA-approved trypan blue stain for anterior applications, it is also authorized for staining Descemet's membrane and trabecular meshwork.  Additionally, the ZEISS booth will feature the FDA-approved Eyejet^® 20C from Morcher^®, built on the gold standard preloaded Eyejet^® system and designed to prevent toric IOLs rotation, providing maximum toric benefits.

ZEISS will showcase its latest offerings and new innovations at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) conference from April 25-27, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA, at booth #1501.

For more information, visit www.zeiss.com/med. 

¹ Data on file.
² Gujral, Tarika, and John Hovanesian. "Cataract Surgical Planning Using Online Software vs Traditional Methods." Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 28 July 2021.
³ Data on file, myopia with optical zone 6.5 mm. 

Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. For country-specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Product specifications are subject to change in design and scope of delivery as a result of ongoing technical development. The statements of the healthcare professionals reflect only their personal opinions and experiences and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any institution that they are affiliated with. The healthcare professionals alone are responsible for the content of their experience reported and any potential resulting infringements. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates to not have clinical evidence supporting the opinions and statements of the health care professionals nor accept any responsibility or liability of the healthcare professionals' content. The healthcare professionals have a contractual or other financial relationship with Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates and have received financial support. 

Contact for investors
Sebastian Frericks
Director Investor Relations
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Phone: +49 3641 220 116
Mail: investors.meditec@zeiss.com

Contact for the press
Frank Smith
Head of Global Communications Ophthalmology
Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.
Phone: +49 3641 220 331
Mail: press.med@zeiss.com

www.zeiss.com/newsroom          

Brief Profile

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704), which is listed on the MDAX and TecDAX of the German stock exchange, is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. The Company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With 5,730 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of €2,066.1m in fiscal year 2023/24 (to 30 September).

The Group's head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company's presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 39 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's shares are in free float. Approx. 59 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and optoelectronic industries.

For further information visit: www.zeiss.com/med

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FAQ

How many cataract surgeries have been planned with ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner in the US?

Over 2 million cataract surgeries have been planned using the ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner in the United States.

What time savings does ZEISS VERACITY Surgery Planner offer compared to traditional planning?

The ZEISS Cataract Workflow powered by VERACITY Surgery Planner saves surgeons and staff up to 60% of their time per eye compared to traditional paper planning.

What are the key features of the new ZEISS VISUMAX 800 system?

The ZEISS VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro software features a 2 MHz laser pulse rate, enabling lenticule creation in less than 10 seconds, and offers compatibility with various patient beds in a smaller footprint.

How many surgeries has the DORC VisionBlue anterior stain been used in?

The DORC VisionBlue anterior stain has been used in more than 10 million cataract surgeries since its introduction and is the only FDA-approved trypan blue stain for anterior applications.

When and where will ZEISS showcase its latest innovations at ASCRS 2025?

ZEISS will showcase its innovations at booth #1501 during the ASCRS conference from April 25-27, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA.