Washington, D.C., April 11, 2018 – Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, will showcase its commitment to innovation and advancements in the cataract, glaucoma and refractive spaces during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 2018 annual meeting, taking place April 13-17 in Washington, D.C. The company will leverage nearly 90 scientific abstract presentations, several educational events and key product launches to demonstrate their promise to provide the latest technologies that enhance sight and improve lives.

“We are excited about this year’s program at ASCRS and our new innovations that will help surgeons continue to streamline the experience in the operating room and in their practices overall,” said Sergio Duplan, Region President, North America, Alcon. “We will showcase data that not only demonstrate the clinical significance of some of our leading technologies, but arm surgeons with the tools and techniques needed to deliver the best outcomes to their patients.” 

The meeting will also feature the first-ever Alcon 3D cataract surgery experience titled New Dimensions in Cataract Surgery: An Educational and Interactive Event, which provides an inside look at world-renowned surgeons operating on real patients. It will present teachable moments during surgery, including what to do when the unexpected happens and the latest tools and techniques that can help provide optimal patient outcomes. The 3D surgery event will be held on Saturday, April 14, 6:30 – 9:30 a.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center EyeWorld Theater, Hall C.

Alcon technologies will appear in data presentations, panel discussions and symposia, including new clinical data on the CyPass^® Micro-Stent for glaucoma patients undergoing cataract surgery; technological updates on the LenSx^® Laser; and, data proving the value of Alcon intraocular lenses in the management of astigmatism and presbyopia correction.

Innovations in Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery

Several presentations and symposia will highlight the clinical significance of the CyPass^® Micro-Stent, a microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device to treat adult patients with mild-to-moderate primary open-angle glaucoma in conjunction with cataract surgery. In addition to the following opportunities to learn more about the CyPass^® Micro-Stent at ASCRS 2018, Alcon will introduce a unique pre-loaded delivery system that will enhance the surgical experience aimed to help improve outcomes in glaucoma patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Saturday, April 14

• Paper Presentation: Noninterventional Study of Data Extracted from an EHR-Based Registry to Assess Long-Term Outcomes of a Supraciliary Microstent. Presented by Dr. Stephen Lane (3:32 – 3:37 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 144A)
• Poster Presentation: Retrospective Review of Phacoemulsification Combined with a Suprachoroidal Stent Versus Phacoemulsification Combined with a Trabecular Bypass Stent for the Treatment of POAG. Presented by Dr. Steven Vold (Posters can be viewed April 14-17 at kiosks in the Poster Pavilion, Walter E. Washington Convention Center)
• Symposium: Mastering Supraciliary MIGS: A Case Study Review: A Compelling Educational Event Featuring Real-World Cases of CyPass® Micro-Stent. Moderated by Dr. Ike Ahmed (4:45 – 6:30 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Lower Level, Hall C)

Monday, April 16

• Paper Presentation: Interim Report of Outcomes of a Supracilliary Micro-Stent in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients. Presented by Dr. William Clifford (1:57 – 2:02 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 149AB)

Tuesday, April 17

• Paper Presentation: Effect of Supracilliary Microstent Implantation Concurrent with Cataract Surgery on the Accuracy of IOL Calculations in Patients with Open Angle Glaucoma. Presented by Dr. Brian Flowers (8:30 – 8:35 a.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 143C)

Updates in Femtosecond Laser Technology

The LenSx^® Laser innovation is part of the Alcon advanced laser platform technology for refractive cataract surgery. It has been used in more cataract surgeries worldwide than any other femtosecond laser and recently reached one million procedures in the US. Alcon will introduce new technological advances with the LenSx^® Laser and will offer hands-on demonstrations of the new technology. Another opportunity to learn more about the LenSx^® Laser at ASCRS 2018 includes:

Tuesday, April 17

• Paper Presentation: Retrospective Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Associated with Manual and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Yeu (1:07 – 1:12 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 143B) 

Ongoing Commitment to Astigmatism Management and Presbyopia Correction

Alcon is committed to arming surgeons with the technologies and scientific data to help them more accurately correct certain eye conditions and will feature new data that demonstrate the clinical value of its AcrySof^® intraocular lenses in astigmatism management and presbyopia correction. Opportunities to learn more at ASCRS 2018 include:

Sunday, April 15

• Paper Presentation: Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Spectacle Independence with the 2.5 D Multifocal IOL Combined with the 3.0 D Model in Cataract Surgery Versus Bilateral Implantation of the 3.0 D Model. Presented by Dr. John Hovanesian (8:02 – 8:07 a.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 143C)
• Paper Presentation: Comparing Rotational Stability of Two Toric IOLs. Presented by Dr. Bryan Lee (8:12 – 8:17 a.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 143A)
• Symposium: Cataract Innovations Lunch Symposium. Moderated by Dr. Terry Kim (11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center EyeWorld Theater, Hall C)

Tuesday, April 17

• Poster Presentation: Analysis of an Intraoperative Aberrometry Database: Outcomes of a Toric IOL for Low Astigmatism. Presented by Dr. Robert Cionni (10:17 – 10:22 a.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Level 1, 144B)

Visit Alcon booth #2617 throughout the meeting for first-hand encounters with surgeons on their experiences with Alcon technologies and hands-on demonstrations of the newest innovations in the cataract, glaucoma and refractive portfolio.

Important Information about the Alcon Products Featured in this Release

CyPass^® Micro-Stent 
The CyPass^® Micro-Stent is a prescription medical device that is indicated for use in conjunction with cataract surgery for the reduction of IOP in adult patients with mild-to-moderate primary open-angle glaucoma. The use of the CyPass^® Micro-Stent is contraindicated in eyes with angle closure glaucoma and eyes with traumatic, malignant, uveitic or neovascular glaucoma or discernible congenital anomalies of the anterior chamber angle. If IOP is not adequately maintained after implantation of a CyPass^® Micro-Stent, additional therapy may be needed for IOP control.

In a randomized, multicenter clinical trial comparing cataract surgery with the CyPass^® Micro-Stent to cataract surgery alone, the most common post-operative adverse events included: Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) loss of 10 or more letters at 3 months after surgery (8.8% for the CyPass® Micro-Stent vs. 15.3% for cataract surgery only); anterior chamber cell and flare requiring steroid treatment 30 or more days after surgery (8.6% vs. 3.8%); worsening of visual field mean deviation by 2.5 or more decibels (6.7% vs. 9.9%); IOP increase of 10 or more mmHg 30 or more days after surgery (4.3% vs. 2.3%); and corneal edema 30 or more days after surgery, or severe in nature (3.5% vs. 1.5%).

LenSx^® Laser 
The LenSx^® Laser is for use in patients undergoing cataract surgery. The laser is used as a tool to break up a cataract and to create incisions in the cornea as part of a cataract surgery. The LenSx^® Laser may also be used for the creation of corneal flaps in LASIK surgery, or for the creation of pockets or tunnels in the cornea to accommodate the placement of corneal implants. 

The LenSx^® Laser uses a SoftFit^® Patient Interface to hold the eye still by applying light suction. Some bleeding and foreign body sensation may occur. As with any cataract surgery, there are risks involved. These risks may include but are not limited to infection, pain, corneal abrasion and capsular tear.

Additional important information about these products will be available at the Alcon booth #2617.