Aaron Morgan and Camille Furnandiz of Medix21 Surgical

New Zealand company Medix21, best known for being a leading provider of rehabilitation equipment in Australasia, is returning to its ophthalmological roots by launching Medix21 Surgical to offer a new range of ophthalmological surgical products to the market.

Medix21 was established in 1987, suppling intraocular lenses (IOLs) to the New Zealand market.

Over the years the company moved away from this focus into rehabilitation and helping people with special needs, expanding the business throughout the country and into Australia, said Aaron Morgan, Medix21’s New Zealand sales manager. “Medix21’s key point of difference is its extremely high level of service and the quality of the IOL it supplied at the time. We are excited to now grow on that legacy by the creation of Medix21 Surgical, offering a far greater breadth of quality ophthalmology products than the past, backed by the same excellent service.”

Medix21 decided to launch a dedicated surgical unit now due to recent growth in its ophthalmic portfolio and its ability to now offer a range of cost-effective products to the New Zealand market, said Morgan. “Our surgical division will be focused heavily on ophthalmic surgery, whilst concentrating initially on complex vitreo-retinal (VR) procedures and the instruments, gases and other items that are required to provide optimal patient outcomes from these procedures.”

Medix21 will supply a range of ophthalmic instruments, blades, gases, oils and fluids, including Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) products to the market from Geuder, Surgitrac and Feather. Other products include: MBI IOLs, said to offer precise quadrant lathing which spreads the toric cylinder lens power over a greater area making them more forgiving to rotational misalignment; Phakos’ single-use disposable cryo probe and disposable VR lenses; and Robomarker’s self-levelling corneal marker with pre-inked, sterile, disposable tips and an integrated fixation light.

Camille Furnandiz, formerly with J&J Vision Surgical, will represent Medix21 Surgical and introduce the company’s products to the New Zealand ophthalmic market from the beginning of April.