Paradigm Change in ONH Rim Assessment

presented by Dr. Balwantray Chauhan, Halifax, Canada and Dr. Claude Burgoyne, Portland, USA.

Friday, July 19th, 2013
7:00 – 7:55 a.m. – Room: 217-219

The topic of the competition is “The Best Photo in Vision Research and Ophthalmology”.. The photography may therefore illustrate all
topics in the field of Ophthalmology & Vision Research. Be creative!

Photo Competition

from April 17 to May 31, 2013

“The Best Photo in Vision Research and Ophthalmology”

1st Prize: 750 Euro
2nd Prize: 500 Euro
3rd Prize: 250 Euro

Submit your photo

It’s just that simple: Fill in the Photo Competition online form and submit it!

Competition Rules

In taking part in the EuroVisionNet Photo Competition 2013, you agree to the competition rules.

Get more information here!

The Diagnostic Power of Multicolor Imaging for SPECTRALIS OCT

Prof. Wolf describes in this article the technology of the confocal scanning laser imaging modality and its performance in a broad range of diseases.

He emphasizes that “Many diseases are highlighted in MultiColor images due to the selective laser colours penetrating into different depths of the retina. [...]

This innovative new imaging modality expands the diagnostic portfolio of eyecare professionals with a tool that further improves the diagnosis and management of patients.”

MultiColor is available as an optional module for all SPECTRALIS models.

In a recent article the group of Szilárd Kiss (Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA) compared ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography with this new module to the Optos^® Optomap^®. Although the findings described in this study are limited to the examination of 10 eyes, the results confirm the excellent performance of the SPECTRALIS non-contact angiography module.

The article can be downloaded here.

The group demonstrated that both ultra-widefield imaging devices “permit excellent capture of the posterior pole as well as the peripheral retinal pathology in a single, non-steered shot.” The small variability in the field-of-view as measured with the SPECTRALIS device is a good indicator that the acquisition of the images is less affected by patient constitution, e.g. lid and lash artifacts.
Qualitatively comparing the field of view of both instruments, the results demonstrate that “the Optos Optomap showed the temporal and nasal retina to a greater extend”, while “the Heidelberg SPECTRALIS was able to image the superior and inferior retina to a more distal point.”

The authors noted peripheral distortion and less detail in the periphery of Optos images. As this distortion may lead to an unnatural representation of retinal structures in the periphery this makes the direct comparison of the captured area in numbers of pixel difficult. In fact, the group pointed out: “In a qualitative evaluation, we found that the Heidelberg ultra-widefield lens outperformed the Optos Optomap in the superior and inferior quadrants, despite a non-statistical quantitative difference [in numbers of pixels measured].”

Dr. Kiss compared the clinical performance of both devices in a patient with multiple retinal hemangioblastomas. Although both instruments enable the clinician a view into the far periphery, for some patients there is the need to look even further to identify the full extent of the disease. The authors demonstrated that this extended view is easily possible with the moveable camera head of the SPECTRALIS. In addition, the clinical value of high-resolution, evenly illuminated and undistorted peripheral images has been effectively demonstrated in order to clearly show all retinal hemangioblastomas during the examination.

^{Optomap is a registered trademark of Optos Plc.
Witwer MT, Parlitsis G, Patel S, Kiss S. Comparison of ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography with the Heidelberg Spectralis® nocontact ultra-widefield module versus the Optos® Optomap®. Clninical Ophthalmology 2013, 7:389-394.}

Heidelberg Engineering is a high-tech medical device company which designs, manufactures and distributes diagnostic instruments for eyecare professionals. We are the world’s leading provider of imaging products in the field of ophthalmology. With our laser scanning systems for three-dimensional imaging, we combine optics and electronics with intelligent software. Our devices have set the standard in the ocular diagnosis.

We offer an exciting and challenging career at an innovative and fast growing company. To further strengthen our strategic marketing team in Heidelberg, Germany, we are looking for a persuasive personality on both a professional and personal level. This team is tasked with the local implementation of global strategies in clinical market development. The core goal of this challenging position is the cooperation and collaboration with key opinion leaders.

You are responsible for the establishment and support of new products and applications in opinion-leading reference centers both nationally and internationally. Your scientific, technical and clinical expertise allows you to communicate and cooperate on the same level with leading scientists and clinicians. You are able to contribute to the innovative pool of the company by identifying addressable clinical needs. Being an excellent communicator, you represent the link between external experts and internal product management. By initiating and supervising clinical trials, you develop new application areas and validate unique features of products. You represent the company at scientific conferences, organize and moderate scientific symposia and meetings of experts. Using well-structured presentations, you inform medical professionals about the latest company developments and support training and sales activities.

We offer challenging assignments, thorough on-the-job training, consistent support of your advancement and a pleasant working environment in which you can directly influence the success of the company. Our most vital requirement is mutual chemistry and a shared desire of identifying opportunities and realizing visions.

Our ideal candidate has a degree in science or medicine, as well as a MD or PhD. Experience in the field of biomedical optics and imaging techniques would ease your transition into this position. Basic prerequisites are a self-driven work ethic, a self-confident appearance and reliable organizational skills. Your computer skills are above average. Oral and written fluency in English is a must. Experience abroad, intercultural competence and knowledge of other foreign languages would play to your advantage.

Please send your complete application documents (CV, copies of certificates as well as your salary expectations and the earliest possible start date) to:

Contact:
Heidelberg Engineering GmbH
Kester Nahen, PhD
VP of Global Marketing and Business Development
Tiergartenstr. 15
69121 Heidelberg
Germany

Send CV

Another highlight of the program will be the 11th International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS), October 18-19, 2013 in New York. We kindly invite clinicians and photographers to participate in the symposium. The scientific program includes a broad spectrum of presentations and workshops from experienced users.
A special dinner event with colleagues from around the world will conclude the symposium.

For dates and details of further Academy events please visit:
www.he-academy.com.

Further outstanding speakers like Prof. Balwantray Chauhan (Canada), Prof. Gabriel Coscas (France), Prof. Bruno Lumbroso (Italy), Prof. Edoardo Midena (Italy), Dr. Antonio Polito (Italy), Dr. Federico Ricci (Italy), Prof. Eric Souied (France), Dr. Francesco Viola (Italy), Prof. Yit Yang (England) and Ethan Priel (Israel) presented new developments and insights in Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography.

Presentations focused as well on new developments such as MultiColor Scanning Laser Imaging, the non-contact Ultra-Widefield Angiography and the Transverse Sectional Imaging software module.

For 300 enthusiastic participants from all over the word, the Hotel Portofino Kulm and its Kursaal offered a worthy frame for excellent scientific contributions, workshops and lively discussions. Therewith, this Symposium was the biggest event in the history of the ISS.

The video recorded lectures are now available here.

The 11th International SPECTRALIS Symposium will take place on October 18th and 19th, 2013 in New York.

You can find some impressions of the Symposium here:

MultiColor imaging uses multiple laser colors simultaneously to selectively capture and display diagnostic information originating from different retinal structures within a single examination.

“SPECTRALIS MultiColor imaging delivers high contrast, detailed fundus images – even in difficult patients including those with cataracts or nystagmus” said Prof. Sebastian Wolf, Head of Ophthalmology at the Inselspital in Bern, Switzerland. “In my experience with this technology, the overall appearance of MultiColor images is similar to those of color fundus photographs,” he commented. “In addition, the increased detail and contrast in the MultiColor images has helped me to identify pathologies difficult to see on the corresponding color fundus images.”

“The new MultiColor imaging modality is based on the core strengths of our company including confocal scanning laser, real-time active eye tracking and noise reduction technology”, said Kester Nahen, VP of Global Marketing and Business Development. He emphasized that, “the combination of MultiColor fundus imaging and SD-OCT in a single device elevates the SPECTRALIS multi-modality platform to a new level of diagnostic power.”

“Demand for the MultiColor module has grown rapidly since its international introduction in February of 2012”, said Erich Bangert, VP of Sales at Heidelberg Engineering GmbH.

Lance Patton, Vice President of US Sales and Marketing for Heidelberg Engineering stated, “We are excited to have received FDA clearance for SPECTRALIS with MultiColor in advance of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, and we look forward to presenting it to the US market in Chicago for the first time.”

To learn more about MultiColor Scanning Laser Imaging with SPECTRALIS please visit www.Spectralis-MultiColor.com.

MultiColor^TM – Scanning Laser Imaging: New imaging modality of the SPECTRALIS product family. – (Image courtesy of S. Wolf, MD, Bern, Switzerland)