Clinical applications

The Navilas® Laser System is a laser delivery device with true color fundus imaging, both mydratic and non-mydratic, as well as monochrome red-free, infrared imaging and fluorescein angiography. Its sophisticated treatment planning capabilities aids the opthalmologist both in the diagnosis and laser treatment planning of retinal diseases—all in one device. The specific real-time and true-color imaging capabilities of Navilas® enable Retina Navigation for the treatment of ocular pathologies in the posterior segments of the eye using an integrated photocoagulation laser.

Renowned clinical studies provided impetus to design Navilas®

Respected clinical studies on the laser treatment of diabetic retinal diseases have shown that precise laser application on the retina has a positive effect in treating diabetic macular edema. The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) confirms that direct coagulation of microaneurysms and macula edema provides the best medical and visual outcome. This conclusion was reconfirmed by the DRCR.net longitudinal study. Additionally, in the three-year follow-up of the study comparing laser to injections, patients receiving laser treatment experienced an average improvement of +5 in visual acuity letter score, but patients in either triamcinolone group showed no improvement. Also, 83% of patients who received 4mg of triamcinolone required cataract surgery at follow-up, compared with 46% who received 1mg of triamcinolone and 31% who received laser treatment.

These studies provided the impetus for the unique design of the Navilas® Laser System, so as to provide direct visualization of the live fundus image and pre-planned treatment—enabling physicians to deliver treatment with improved accuracy, safety, speed and ease of use with the goal to improve clinical results and patient throughput.

Sources:

• The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net), Beck RW, Edwards AR, et al. Three-year follow-up of a randomized trial comparing focal/grid photocoagulation and intravitreal triamcinolone for diabetic macular edema. Arch Ophthalmol 2009 Mar;127(3):245-51.
• Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) Laser Treatment Highly Effective in Treating Diabetic Retinopathy, October 30, 1989 National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Martidis A, Duker JS, Greenberg PB, et al. Intravitreal triamcinolone for refractory diabetic macular edema. Ophthalmology 2002 May;109(5):920-7