Seeing More with the First Digital Microscope

A new era of visualization has begun with the ZEISS ARTEVO 800. Unveiled at the ASCRS meeting in May 2019, this first-of-its-kind digital microscope is now commercially available in both the US and Europe.

Developed in partnership with more than 300 ophthalmic surgeons, the digital microscope can be used as an imaging, information, and teaching tool in cataract, corneal, retinal, and glaucoma surgery.

The DigitalOptics™ technology produces a stereoscopic 3D image viewed using passive polarized glasses, which boasts 25 percent higher resolution than competitor modular systems (1). The 55-inch 4K monitor provides viewers with a natural-color impression of the surgical field and can be positioned anywhere in the operating room, providing the surgeon with a comfortable position and the rest of the team with a clear view. Data, such as intraoperative OCT, cataract assistance functions, and phaco vitrectomy values, as well as patient information and operating room settings, can be overlaid onto the active image without blocking the surgeons view of the eye.

If the surgeon wants to use oculars at any point, a sterile knob can redirect a portion of the light to them. The screen remains in operation so other people in the room continue to see what the surgeon sees. However, speaking at the microscope’s launch, Peter Stalmans, an ophthalmic surgeon from University Hospitals in Leuven, Belgium, who has used ZEISS digital visualization technology in operations on more than 1,000 eyes, commented that he had not needed to look through oculars in the past year and a half.

The device transmits 25 percent more light than conventional optics (2) so surgery can be performed at a reduced light intensity, providing the possibility of more comfort for the patient.

The depth of field is exceptional. More of the eye can be kept in focus so valuable surgical time is not spent on refocusing. For any adjustments that are necessary, a foot control pedal allows surgeons to control the microscope without interruption.

The ZEISS ARTEVO 800 integrates seamlessly with the ZEISS Cataract Suite to allow surgeons to access data and images from the cloud, with a one-click transmission to facilitate the process.

With 170 years of experience at the forefront of optics, ZEISS has set a new standard with the ZEISS ARTEVO 800 digital microscope. It’s not just a digital system bolted on to a conventional set up, but an innovation that has been built from the ground up to smoothly integrate digital technology into optics specifically designed for surgery. Visualization, information, comfort, and workflow in the operating room have all evolved to meet the needs of the modern surgeon in a modern world.