Medical Device Network

J&J unveils Elita laser correction platform ahead of US launch

The platform allows for laser-assisted lens removal and a minimally invasive surgical correction of short-sightedness.

Johnson & Johnson Vision is set to unveil its Elita laser correction device for minimally invasive surgical correction of myopia (short-sightedness).

The platform will be demonstrated at the J&J Vision booth at the 41st European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, from 8 to 12 September 2023.

The Elita Femtosecond Laser System is planned for a US launch by the end of this year, following CE mark approval and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance. The system allows for minimally invasive Lasik (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) correction of myopia, with or without astigmatism.

Myopia is a refractive error of the eye due to which far away objects appear blurry. It is often associated with astigmatism, a condition where either the cornea of the eye or the eye lens is not the correct shape, leading to blurred vision.

As per the American Optometric Association, approximately 30% of the US population suffers from myopia. The treatment for both disorders is prescription glasses and surgery in some cases.

The Elita system uses laser pulses to create a small biconvex tissue, known as a lenticule, which can then be removed through a SILK (Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis) procedure to correct the eye disorder.

J&J will also present abstracts for the Elita platform and its Tecnis intraocular lenses, including Eyhance, Synergy, Synergy Toric II, Symfony and Symfony OptiBlue, at the ESCRS.

The Johnson & Johnson MedTech division also has a series of therapeutic lenses, Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses and Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for Astigmatism, for myopia treatment that have been approved by the FDA.

The J&J vision division reported combined sales of $1.3bn for the second quarter of 2023 for contact and intraocular lenses and surgical platforms, as per the company’s Q2 report.

J&J vision sales are expected to increase in future, as GlobalData estimates the intraocular lens market to grow to $5.2bn by 2030 mostly driven by increased rates of cataract surgeries.