VISX Receives FDA Approval For Variable Spot Scanning (VSS) Allowing Larger Treatment Zones

VSS™ Increases Treatment Zone to 8mm
April 1, 2001

VISX, Incorporated announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of variable spot scanning to achieve larger treatment zones for myopia on the VISX STAR S2™ and STAR S3 ActiveTrak™ Excimer Laser Systems.

This new treatment zone increases the ablation area by 51%, extending the myopic treatment to 8 mm, providing additional flexibility when pupil size is a concern.

"For patients with larger pupils, this treatment has an advantage over flying spot laser systems," said Gustavo Tamayo, MD, of the Aruba Eye Institute, who conducted the international study. "This is due to the fact that variable spot scanning, which creates the blend zone, performs these larger treatments without significantly increasing ablation time or depth."

Flying spot scanning treatments, which are limited by a single spot size, have the potential to increase the depth of the ablation by as much as a factor of three.

The VISX STAR™ platform uses an exclusive SmartBeam™ technology which tailors the beam size from 0.65 mm to 6.5mm for the particular area to be treated, sparing precious corneal tissue.

The availability of more treatment options allows doctors to better address the specific needs of each patient. Also, this innovation may help to reduce patient concerns that sometimes delay the decision to have laser vision correction. This new feature is the latest example of VISX's commitment to research and development, which brings VISX certified doctors the most advanced laser vision correction technology.