Alcon announced the launch of the Unity Vitreoretinal Cataract System (VCS) and Unity Cataract System (CS). The new platform offers 2 configurations, a combined console (VCS) as well as a standalone cataract system (CS), the company said in a press release. This platform is designed to deliver superior efficiency for vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, while enabling exceptional outcomes for patients.^2,4-6,* The systems feature many first-to-market technologies designed to deliver transformative surgical innovation for cataract and vitreoretinal surgery, including Unity 4D Phaco, HYPERVIT 30K and the advanced Unity Intelligent Fluidics system.^1,4-7 With Unity VCS/CS, surgeons can operate at more physiologic conditions without compromising efficiency.¹ Surgeons will have the opportunity for hands-on experience with Unity VCS/CS during the 2025 American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual meeting (ASCRS, Los Angeles, April 25-28) at the Alcon Booth (#1815).

“Alcon has a long legacy of advancing phaco and vitreoretinal technology for surgical ophthalmology. With Unity VCS/CS, we are introducing more than a dozen innovations designed to transform surgical outcomes while delivering significant efficiencies for surgery centers across the globe,” said David Endicott, CEO of Alcon, in the press release. “This tremendous accomplishment could not have been achieved without those who participated in the development process, including the surgeons who have been evaluating the machines in their practices over the last year. We are excited to start shipping inventory next month so more practices can experience this extraordinary innovation.”

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According to Alcon, the combination vitreoretinal and cataract system intelligently transforms vitreoretinal and cataract surgery with significant innovation. With the introduction of Unity Intelligent Fluidics, a pressure and flow-control technology with real-time sensing, surgeons can expect surgical stability and efficiency at each step of the procedure.¹ Significant advancements in instrumentation for vitreoretinal surgery include:

• Unity 27 Gauge Portfolio: Instrumentation that through the design and the inclusion of the Dynamic Stiffener technology, surpasses the limitations of traditional 27-gauge tools, delivering the stiffness of a 25-gauge system or better, in a smaller gauge.⁶
• Unity TetraSpot: A multi-spot illuminated laser probe that reduces laser application time by up to 3 times, enabling surgeons to deliver 1, 2, or 4 simultaneous laser spots for greater procedural versatility.^5,‡
• Unity Illumination: Reduces blue light exposure to the eye and includes customizable light profiles for excellent tissue visualization, while providing up to 10,000 hours of reliability.^1,8

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The Unity VCS/CS system is designed to allow cataract surgeons to operate with increased stability and efficiency at more physiologic conditions through its Intelligent Fluidics functionality.¹ This new technology maintains a consistent level of intraocular pressure (IOP)∞ to help support patient comfort during surgery, while allowing for higher average vacuum during lens removal.¹ Other surgical performance enhancements include:

• Unity Intelligent Sentry: Maintains anterior chamber stability while improving upon Centurion Vision System with Active Sentry, reducing post-occlusion surge volumes by 44%.^9,*
• Unity Thermal Sentry: The first phacoemulsification handpiece that features a thermal sensor that works with a proprietary algorithm to estimate incision temperature in real-time and regulate ultrasound power.¹

Unity VCS/CS is the first product to become available from Alcon’s Unity portfolio of next-generation surgical equipment solutions, the company said. Unity VCS/CS users can benefit from Intelligent Services Solutions, including select remote service offerings and predictive service capabilities to minimize downtime. Unity VCS has received CE Mark, and regulatory approvals in Australia, Japan and the United States. Inventory will begin shipping to Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States from May onwards; and to other markets in third quarter of 2025 pending regulatory approvals. Surgeons attending the ASCRS annual meeting can demo the Unity VCS/CS platform at Alcon Booth #1815. 

^*Based on bench data; reduction in surge is correlated to less change in anterior chamber depth.^†Based on N=10 handpieces, Artificial cataract lens IOP 55 mmhg vacuum of 450 mmHg.
^‡Multiple-spot laser probe (4) is 3 times faster than single-spot laser probe.
^∞Mean fluctuation at flow vs. setpoint of 2.36 ± 2.13, 4.19 ± 1.97, 1.84 ± 2.82, and 2.13 ± 2.86 mmHg during phacoemulsification, irrigation/aspiration (IA), vitrectomy, and extrusion/fragmentation, respectively.

References

1. UNITY VCS and CS User Manual.
2. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-24644]
3. Irannejad A, Tambat S, Abulon DJK. Retropulsion and Mass flow of 27-gauge Vitrectomy Probes: Comparison of Dual-blade/flat-tipped probes and single-blade/beveled probes. 2021. Poster presentation.
4. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-24379]
5. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-24615]
6. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-24576]
7. Unity Phaco Handpiece Directions for Use.
8. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-24760]
9. Alcon Data on File, 2024. [REF-25562]