Alcon Debuts Latest Digital Innovations, SMARTCataract DX and NGENUITY 1.5, at ESCRS 2024

Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today announced new innovations during the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) Annual Meeting (6-10 September in Barcelona). Driven by the ARGOS^® Biometer and future Alcon diagnostic technologies, the newly available SMARTCataract DX digital planning solution is designed to power workflow efficiencies for practices. NGENUITY^® 1.5 also adds connectivity capabilities—allowing for image-guided 3D cataract surgery with ARGOS Biometer—and provides significant enhancements for superior visualization. SMARTCataract DX and NGENUITY 1.5 have received CE Mark and strengthen the Alcon Vision Suite ecosystem.

“As the global aging population booms and demand for cataract surgery continuously increases, now more than ever, ophthalmologists need solutions that create efficiencies and optimize patient outcomes,” said Seba Leoni, President, International Surgical at Alcon. “SMARTCataract DX clearly demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the Alcon Vision Suite ecosystem to provide ophthalmic practices complete, connected care—and we are excited to offer this streamlined planning solution to surgeons and staff globally. With innovative technologies like NGENUITY 1.5, the ARGOS Biometer and SMARTCataract DX, surgeons will be able to seamlessly conduct 3D digital image-guided cataract surgery, increasing workflow efficiency and precision.”

Addressing Today’s Needs with a Fully Connected Ecosystem
Due to the aging population, global medical systems are experiencing increased demands on already resource-constrained infrastructures. This is compounded in eye care, where the fields of optometry and ophthalmology are not attracting an adequate supply of professionals and large numbers are retiring annually.

Planning for and performing cataract surgery has historically required manual transcription from device to device—making it a tedious and time-consuming process. Additionally, growing demand for cataract surgery, coupled with staff shortages, increases the chances for human error. These factors ultimately slow down workflows and potentially impact patient outcomes. The Alcon Vision Suite addresses these gaps with a fully integrated ecosystem that brings together leading products, services and digital solutions. The Alcon Vision Suite now includes: ARGOS Biometer, LuxOR^® Revalia™ Ophthalmic Microscope, LenSx^® Femtosecond Laser, NGENUITY 1.5 3D Visualization System, CENTURION^® Vision System with ACTIVE SENTRY™, ORA SYSTEM^® with VerifEye+™ Datafusion and SMARTCataract DX—for cataract surgery.

Solving for Gaps in Clinic-to-OR Efficiency with an Intuitive, Personalized Digital Solution
Practices and hospital systems that use Alcon’s ARGOS Biometer can now benefit from the seamless in-network clinic-to-OR connectivity delivered by SMARTCataract DX.15 This advanced planning solution eliminates transcription errors and provides EHR/PACS connectivity—ensuring a cohesive, streamlined workflow by linking data systems with Alcon diagnostic devices and OR equipment. SMARTCataract DX also simplifies planning; users can access multiple datasets in one view and quickly retrieve patients’ measurements to streamline decision-making during cataract surgery. With personalized presets, in only a few clicks, surgeons can adapt SMARTCataract DX to their specific needs, including advanced formula options, individualized notifications that can spot potential outliers, and customizable printouts and templates. In addition, this solution integrates with Alcon Intelligent Services, offering remote software updates, as well as enhanced diagnostics and troubleshooting through machine data collection.

“Since the pandemic, we have been experiencing a consistent patient surge—with approximately two thousand cataract surgeries last year alone—and we are looking forward to experiencing the workflow efficiencies powered by SMARTCataract DX pre-, intra- and post-op in our digital operating room,” said Kjell Gunnar Gundersen, MD, PhD. “As a long-time proponent of NGENUITY, I am most excited about the new visualization modes that come with the 1.5 upgrade—allowing for enhanced levels of detail for myself and the whole team in the OR during cataract and MIGS surgery. I believe the future of cataract surgery display is in 3D heads-up, rather than hunched over, and I’m thrilled to be among the first surgeons in Europe to experience this advancement in visualization.”

Introducing Superior Visualization, Increased Workflow Efficiency and Precision
Surgeons can see more with up to 48% increased magnification with NGENUITY 1.5, while also seeing more detail with up to 42% increased depth resolution NGENUITY 1.5 introduces new enhancement modes, all designed to help surgeons distinguish every detail, including:

Similar to SMARTCataract DX, NGENUITY 1.5 integrates seamlessly with the ARGOS Biometer, and will allow for in-network or cloud-based 3D image-guided cataract surgery. Biometry measurements and images can be imported, enabling surgeons to precisely overlay incision location, capsulorhexis, IOL centration and toric alignment. To further streamline surgical planning, NGENUITY 1.5 increases the total number of OR devices it connects with, including Alcon Image Guidance, Argos Biometer, Centurion Vision System Datafusion, ORA with VerifEye+ Datafusion and CONSTELLATION^® Vision System Datafusion.

NGENUITY 1.5 received CE Mark earlier this year and is currently being rolled out in select markets in Europe. SMARTCataract DX also received CE Mark in August 2024; pilots will begin in Q4 in select markets, with a broader rollout starting in 2025. SMARTCataract DX and NGENUITY 1.5 are supported by Alcon’s best-in-class training, product maintenance and services teams. Attendees at this year’s ESCRS conference can preview SMARTCataract DX and NGENUITY 1.5 as part of the Alcon Vision Suite at booth #7.A00. The Alcon Vision Suite will continue to grow with cutting-edge products expected to be introduced over the coming years, adding to Alcon’s market-leading legacy products which will continue to be available and serviceable.

www.alcon.com