Thanks to generous donations to Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, a new era in the treatment for patients at Sydney Eye Hospital has been ushered in with the latest operating microscope technology.
The case for funding
The combination of the digital optics and digital cockpit offered by the Artevo 800 allows surgeons and theatre staff to view a three-dimensional image of the ophthalmic procedures on a 55” 4K monitor while simultaneously accessing real-time data, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, on the screen.
While it is the high resolution 4K screen and digital display that immediately attracts attention, leading surgeon and researcher Associate Professor Matthew Simunovic says it’s the intraoperative OCT that has been a real game changer for many ophthalmic procedures.
“In these procedures it is necessary to define the correct plane for the sub-retinal injection, it is relatively easy to go too deep or too shallow – with intraoperative OCT technology it is possible to confirm definitively that you have found the correct surgical plane,” says Professor Simunovic.
Along with having distinct clinical advantages, the technology has been identified as an exceptional teaching tool, as everybody in the operating theatre gains access to the surgeon’s view of the procedure. It’s an invaluable advantage for younger surgeons seeking to develop their understanding of complex surgery.
Donor impact
Sydney Eye Hospital, immediately put the Zeiss Artevo 800 digital ophthalmic microscope into action when it was installed in one surgical theatre. From day one it has enabled innovative and pioneering surgical procedures across a variety of glaucoma, cataract, corneal and retinal pathologies.
This was only made possible through the substantial fundraising contribution of $470,000 in 2021 and 2022 by donors to Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, and in addition a generous $100,000 gift from Lions NSW/ACT Save Sight Foundation.
“This technology recognises the holistic and team approach needed for every patient. The whole surgical team have a surgeon’s eye view which can also be used later for education and training purposes.” – Linda Fagan, Chief Executive of Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation.
