Schwind eye tech solutions

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SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH
SCHWIND
Company type GmbH
Industry Medical technology
Founded1958
Headquarters Kleinostheim, Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Rolf Schwind (CEO)
ProductsOphthalmic devices
Revenue€ 25.5 million (2009/10) [1]
Number of employees
>100
Parent
  • Independent (1958–2022)
  • Adagia Partners (2022–present)
Website www.eye-tech-solutions.com

SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH develops, produces and markets devices for the treatment of ametropiae and corneal diseases consisting of laser systems, diagnostic systems, software for individual treatment planning and a microkeratome.

Contents

The owner-operated enterprise, based in Kleinostheim near Aschaffenburg, Germany, employs more than 100 people and distributes its products in more than 120 countries worldwide. Customers include ophthalmic surgeons, eye clinics, laser centers, and university hospitals.

Three months after announcing its intention to acquire the company, Adagia Partners completed the purchase of Schwind eye-tech-solutions in February 2022 for an undisclosed amount. [2] [3]

History

Named after its founder, the enterprise was registered in 1958 as Herbert Schwind GmbH & Co. KG [4] in the Aschaffenburg trade register. The company initially positioned itself as a full service provider and diagnostic supplier for ophthalmologists. [4]

Founded in 1964, the subsidiary Titmus Eurocon was created, to specialize in the development of contact lenses. In 1972, with the introduction of the first soft contact lenses, Titmus Eurocon brought a world novelty to the market. [5] [6] Titmus Eurocon was sold in 1982 to the Swiss group Ciba Geigy (Novartis). [7] [8] [9]

In the early the 1990s, Scwind expanded its focus by adding a second area of expertise to its portfolio: the development, production, and distribution of eye lasers for vision correction, [4] including refractive and therapeutic corneal surgery. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] In 1992 the first treatment of myopia with a shrink laser took place in South Korea. Seven years following this event, in 1999, the company management withdrew Schwind from the business field in service provision for ophthalmologists to specialise solely in the field of eye laser correction. At the same time, they changed their name to Schwind eye-tech-solutions. [4]

In 2007 the company introduced a new excimer laser generation, the Schwind Amaris, which is the first and only laser system worldwide to combine all available modern refractive technologies in one system. [15] [16] Since then, the Schwind Amaris product family has been enhanced continuously. Today, Schwind Amaris laser systems compete successfully in a market otherwise dominated by multinational, market-listed corporations. The latest Amaris evolution features, with 1050 Hertz, the second after Optosystems Microscan (1100 Hertz) the highest available pulse repetition rate on the market of excimer lasers today.

In 2013, Schwind concluded an agreement to license the Schwind Amaris platform to the Alphaeon Corporation for marketing and FDA approval in the United States.[ citation needed ]

In 2016 international private investment firm, Ardian, purchased a 70% stake in the company. [17]

In 2021, Global law firm, White and Case LLP advised international private investment firm Ardian on the sale of Schwind to private equity company Adagia Partners. The details of the transaction were not disclosed by the parties. [18] [19] In December 2021, Adagia Partners completed the deal, purchasing 70% majority shares while Rolf Schwind retained a 30% minority stake and agreement to continue in the role of CEO. [20] [21]

Products

Lasers

Schwind Esiris excimer laser [4]

Schwind Amaris excimer laser [4] [22]

The Schwind Amaris laser operates at 500 pulses per second and is the first laser to use two energy levels for corneal tissue removal. Approximately 80% of the tissue is removed with high energy to speed up treatment, while the remaining tissue is removed with low energy for increased precision. This method allows for the correction of a diopter in under 2.5 seconds, reducing treatment time, particularly for patients with high levels of vision defects.

The laser is equipped with an eye tracking system that monitors eye movements 1050 times per second, adjusting the laser to ensure accuracy. At the time, it was the first laser to use a five-dimensional eye tracker, compensating for both linear and rotational eye movements during the procedure. Clinical studies indicate that patients treated with this laser achieve higher visual performance [23] [24] than with glasses or contact lenses, with some achieving 125% visual acuity. The Bellevue Eye Clinic in Kiel was one of the first clinics in Germany to use the laser in routine care. [25]

Schwind Atos femtosecond laser [4] [26]

Other

Treatments

Trans PRK/SmartsurfACE

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was first introduced in 1988 as one of the earliest laser refractive surgical methods. [28] [22] SmartSurfACE PRK is a proprietary procedure launched in 2009, which built on this foundation to create a touchless procedure to correct vision at the surface of the cornea without suction of the eye, flap, or incision. [29] [30] The non-invasive eye surgery technique involves the removal of the thin outer corneal layer (epithelium) through surface ablation, allowing for precise vision correction without making incisions or creating a corneal flap. By avoiding incisions or cuts into the cornea, the method reduces post-operative complications and improves corneal stability. Third party and peer-reviewed publications have since reported and proven the TransPRK efficacy. [29] [31] [4] Patients have reported improved vision immediately after surgery, more than experienced with the use of glasses prior to surgery. [32]

SmartPulse

Introduced in 2015, [29] SmartPulse technology creates a precise 3D model of the cornea using a refined spot overlap algorithm. [32] This pulse technology, developed in conjunction with Dr. David T.C. Lin in Vancouver, Canada, [33] facilitates an even laser pulse distribution that positions 0.2 μm laser pulses more closely than earlier technologies. [29] This approach provides a smooth stromal surface post-ablation. Schwind use SmartPulse technology in combination with the PRK/SmartSurfACE method to accelaerate re-epitherlialisation leading to quicker visual recovery. [28] [32]

Awards

For its innovations, Schwind was awarded various national and international prizes since 2008, for example the German "Industriepreis 2008" in the medical technology category, [34] [35] the "Gusi Peace Prize 2008", [36] [37] [38] the "Medical Design Excellence Award 2008" [39] in Gold as well as the German "TOP 100 most innovative companies 2008" [40] [41] and "Germany Land of Ideas - Selected Landmark 2009" [42] awards.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farsightedness</span> Eye condition in which light is focused behind instead of on the retina

Far-sightedness, also known as long-sightedness, hypermetropia, and hyperopia, is a condition of the eye where distant objects are seen clearly but near objects appear blurred. This blur is due to incoming light being focused behind, instead of on, the retina due to insufficient accommodation by the lens. Minor hypermetropia in young patients is usually corrected by their accommodation, without any defects in vision. But, due to this accommodative effort for distant vision, people may complain of eye strain during prolonged reading. If the hypermetropia is high, there will be defective vision for both distance and near. People may also experience accommodative dysfunction, binocular dysfunction, amblyopia, and strabismus. Newborns are almost invariably hypermetropic, but it gradually decreases as the newborn gets older.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LASIK</span> Corrective ophthalmological surgery

LASIK or Lasik, commonly referred to as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a femtosecond laser or a microkeratome to create a corneal flap to expose the corneal stroma and then an excimer laser to reshape the corneal stroma in order to improve visual acuity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photorefractive keratectomy</span> Refractive eye surgery procedure

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy (LASEK) are laser eye surgery procedures intended to correct a person's vision, reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses. LASEK and PRK permanently change the shape of the anterior central cornea using an excimer laser to ablate a small amount of tissue from the corneal stroma at the front of the eye, just under the corneal epithelium. The outer layer of the cornea is removed prior to the ablation.

A microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery. The normal human cornea varies from around 500 to 600 μm in thickness; and in the LASIK procedure, the microkeratome creates an 83 to 200 μm thick flap. The microkeratome uses an oscillating blade system, which has a blade that oscillates horizontally as the blade travels vertically for a precise cut. This piece of equipment is used all around the world to cut the cornea flap. The microkeratome is also used in Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), where it is used to slice a thin layer from the back of the donor cornea, which is then transplanted into the posterior cornea of the recipient. It was invented by Jose Barraquer and Cesar Carlos Carriazo in the 1950s in Colombia.

Keratomileusis, from Greek κέρας and σμίλευσις, or corneal reshaping, is the improvement of the refractive state of the cornea by surgically reshaping it. It is the most common form of refractive surgery. The first usable technique was developed by José Ignacio Barraquer, commonly called "the father of modern refractive surgery."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refractive surgery</span> Surgery to treat common vision disorders

Refractive surgery is an optional eye surgery used to improve the refractive state of the eye and decrease or eliminate dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This can include various methods of surgical remodeling of the cornea (keratomileusis), lens implantation or lens replacement. The most common methods today use excimer lasers to reshape the curvature of the cornea. Refractive eye surgeries are used to treat common vision disorders such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intraocular lens</span> Lens implanted in the eye to treat cataracts or myopia

An intraocular lens (IOL) is a lens implanted in the eye usually as part of a treatment for cataracts or for correcting other vision problems such as short sightedness and long sightedness; a form of refractive surgery. If the natural lens is left in the eye, the IOL is known as phakic, otherwise it is a pseudophakic lens. Both kinds of IOLs are designed to provide the same light-focusing function as the natural crystalline lens. This can be an alternative to LASIK, but LASIK is not an alternative to an IOL for treatment of cataracts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phakic intraocular lens</span> Lens implanted in eye in addition to the natural lens

A phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) is an intraocular lens that is implanted surgically into the eye to correct refractive errors without removing the natural lens. Intraocular lenses that are implanted into eyes after the eye's natural lens has been removed during cataract surgery are known as pseudophakic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy</span> Eye disease

Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy (TSPK) is a disease of the eyes. The causes of TSPK are not currently known, but details of the disease were first published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1950 by American ophthalmologist Phillips Thygeson (1903–2002), after whom it is named.

Automated lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), also known as keratomileusis in situ, is a non-laser lamellar refractive procedure used to correct high degree refractive errors. This procedure can correct large amounts of myopia and hyperopia. However, the resultant change is not as predictable as with other procedures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corneal pachymetry</span>

Corneal pachymetry is the process of measuring the thickness of the cornea. A pachymeter is a medical device used to measure the thickness of the eye's cornea. It is used to perform corneal pachymetry prior to refractive surgery, for Keratoconus screening, LRI surgery and is useful in screening for patients suspected of developing glaucoma among other uses.

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is a sterile inflammation of the cornea which may occur after refractive surgery, such as LASIK. Its incidence has been estimated to be 1 in 500 patients, though this may be as high as 32% in some cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gholam A. Peyman</span> Iranian-American ophthalmologist and retina surgeon known for inventing LASIK eye surgery

Gholam A. Peyman is an Iranian American ophthalmologist, retina surgeon, and inventor. He is best known for his invention of LASIK eye surgery, a vision correction procedure designed to allow people to see clearly without glasses. He was awarded the first US patent for the procedure in 1989.

Jeffery J. Machat MD, FRCSC, DABO is an ophthalmologist in the United States and Canada specializing in surgical vision correction better known as refractive eye surgery. He is most known for being the Co-Founder of TLC Laser Eye Centers with Elias Vamvakas in 1993. The first TLC clinic was located in Windsor, Canada and treated thousands of patients from across all of North America. The clinic also hosted thousands of eye care specialists trying to learn about LASIK and PRK prior to US FDA approval which came three years later. Together Vamvakas and Machat built an incredible company of 83 LASIK clinics through both organic growth and strategic acquisition by May 2002 to become the largest provider of LASIK in North America. Dr. Machat pioneered not only LASIK but the concept of Optometric Comanagement throughout the 1990s, helping build a TLC network of over 14,000 referring optometrists by 2000. In 2005-2006, Machat spent time in Europe working to build Optical Express, helping David Moulsdale, owner and Founder, to transform the company from 300 optical stores into the leading provider of LASIK vision correction in Europe with 55 clinics in the span of 2 years.

Peter S. Hersh is an American ophthalmologist, researcher, and specialist in LASIK eye surgery, keratoconus, and diseases of the cornea. He co-authored the article in the journal Ophthalmology that presented the results of the study that led to the first approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the excimer laser for the correction of nearsightedness in the United States. Hersh was also medical monitor of the study that led to approval of corneal collagen crosslinking for the treatment of keratoconus. He was the originator, in 2015, of CTAK for keratoconus, patent holder, and co-developer.

Raymond Mark Stein, MD, FRCSC, DABO, is a Canadian ophthalmologist. He practices refractive and cataract surgery. He is the medical director of the Bochner Eye Institute in Toronto, Ontario and Chief of Ophthalmology at the Scarborough General Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Seiler</span> German ophthalmologist and physicist

Theo Seiler is a German ophthalmologist and physicist. He is considered one of the pioneers of refractive surgery.

Post-LASIK ectasia is a condition similar to keratoconus where the cornea starts to bulge forwards at a variable time after LASIK, PRK, or SMILE corneal laser eye surgery. However, the physiological processes of post-LASIK ectasia seem to be different from keratoconus. The visible changes in the basal epithelial cell and anterior and posterior keratocytes linked with keratoconus were not observed in post-LASIK ectasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Marshall (eye laser scientist)</span> British medical scientist and inventor

John Marshall is a British medical scientist and inventor. Currently he is the Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology UCL and Emeritus Professor King's College London. He is a pioneer of laser eye surgery.

Anastasios John Kanellopoulos is a Greek-American eye surgeon specializing in corneal transplantation, cornea crosslinking for keratoconus, complicated cataract surgery and complicated glaucoma. Widely known for research and clinical contributions in micro-incision cataract, customized laser refractive surgery and corneal cross-linking propagation and most innovations, reducing corneal transplants for advanced keratoconus.

References

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  15. ↑ "All inclusive - Schwinds neuer TotalTech-Laser Amaris". Ophthalmologische Nachrichten (in German). October 2007. p. 25.
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  17. ↑ Schütze, Arno (2021-11-04). "Augenlaserhersteller Schwind steht zum Verkauf" [Eye laser manufacturer Schwind is for sale]. www.handelsblatt.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
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  27. ↑ Gabric, Ivan; Bohac, Maja; Gabric, Kresimir; Arba Mosquera, Samuel (2023-06-05). "First European results of a new refractive lenticular extraction procedure—SmartSight by SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions". Eye. 37 (18): 3768–3775. doi:10.1038/s41433-023-02601-0. ISSN   1476-5454. PMC  10698070. PMID   37277614.
  28. 1 2 "TransPRK – SmartSurface Touchfree Laser". The ELZA Institute. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Schwind reaches milestone of 825,000 TransPRK or SmartSurfACE procedures. ". Ophthalmology Times Europe. 14 (9). Intellisphere, LLC: 42. November 2018 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
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