Bausch + Lomb’s Laser Platform Cleared for Cataract Surgery

The FDA cleared Bausch + Lomb’s VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Platform for laser-assisted lens fragmentation during cataract surgery, a new indication for the device, parent Valeant Pharmaceuticals said Thursday.

Femtosecond lasers produce optical pulses of extremely short duration and can make surgical incisions with great precision without transferring heat or shock, the company noted. Originally designed for use in LASIK surgery, the indications have been expanded to include additional corneal procedures and cataract applications.

The platform received a CE Mark in November 2011 and initial FDA clearance in July 2012.

The fragmentation procedure, which follows a capsulotomy, uses a femtosecond laser to split the lens into sections so that it can be more easily removed. The VICTUS platform offers physicians different lens fragmentation patterns depending on the cataract grade and user preference, the Rochester, N.Y., devicemaker said. — Kellen Owings

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