Dr Andrew Riley with Device Technologies’ Jared Prinsloo and Louie Tan and Rotorua Eye Clinic’s Dr Marc Gimblett

Device Technologies has unveiled the Ziemer femto LDV Z8 laser in New Zealand, describing it as a true “Swiss Army knife” for eye surgery.

The Swiss-made laser’s capabilities not only span refractive and cataract but its inbuilt OCT also allows for therapeutic treatments, including keratoplasty and keratoconus treatments, said Device Technologies refractive specialist Louie Tan. Using low-energy pulses in the nanojoule range, the Z8 delivers precise cuts with minimal tissue disruption, he said. “Lower energy levels mean faster recovery times for patients.”

“The Ziemer Z8 can be used to create LASIK flaps and is also capable of performing CLEAR (corneal lenticule extraction for advanced refractive correction) as a one-step, all-femto refractive procedure, directly correcting refractive errors.”

What also sets this laser apart from others, is that it is compact and portable, unlike traditional systems, Tan said.

Another notable feature is the system’s ability to perform the corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments (CAIRS) procedure for patients with keratoconus, he said. The Z8 creates a tunnel in the patient’s cornea to insert donor tissue, which is a big improvement over synthetic materials, offering 100% biocompatibility and reducing the risk of extrusion, said Tan. “And it can cut donor tissue to exact specifications, something that would otherwise be done manually and take much longer.” While CAIRS is still gaining traction in New Zealand, the Ziemer Z8 is currently the only system in the country equipped for this revolutionary treatment, he said.