The EQ Workplace from ZEISS is the latest addition to the ZEISS Cataract Suite that helps to streamline the refractive cataract workflow. From biometry, calculating, selecting and ordering IOLs to surgical planning, and even post-operative data collection, ZEISS EQ Workplace is designed to help save time during the pre-operative processes, further protect against never-events, access data from anywhere and personalise IOL constants.
EQ Workplace started with the first pilot site in 2019 and became commercially available in New Zealand and Australia in May 2020, with 12 sites now using the technology. Feedback from all clinics is very positive, confirming that EQ Workplace streamlines the whole process of selecting an IOL and making the likelihood of an error remote. The sites particularly report improvements in efficiency and peace of mind with toric, extended depth of focus (EDoF) and multifocal IOLs, since their work-up is more intricate. These lenses are less tolerant to small errors, with residual astigmatism or spherical error of 0.5D or more known to have a significant impact on the unaided vision of patients receiving them. To fully understand the benefits of EQ Workplace, a pilot site in Brisbane, OKKO Eye Specialist Centre, is running a prospective study looking at the impact on efficiency in its practice.
Based on ZEISS FORUM, the EQ Workplace enables single-click data transfer to and from instruments and auto population of data, saving time pre-operatively. Data can be accessed remotely from the ZEISS IOLMaster 500 or 700, and other DICOM-compatible diagnostic devices, allowing the surgeon to calculate and select IOLs based on a comprehensive review of all relevant diagnostic data in one place at any time and from anywhere. It also allows for remote surgical planning as it connects directly to ZEISS CALLISTO eye computer-assisted cataract surgery system. When starting surgery with the CALLISTO eye, all relevant assistant functions such as rhexis, incisions and target axis for toric IOLs are already pre-set, saving valuable theatre time. CALLISTO eye is available with the LUMERA 700 and ARTEVO 800, the first digital microscope.
Thanks to the secure data trail of EQ Workplace, it further defends against the costly risk of human error. It provides a new level of protection against never-events by streamlining and automating processes such as the transfer of biometric data from the IOLMaster to EQ Workplace and the population of the relevant data fields for IOL calculation and selection. The IOL data is then copied directly into the IOL order. In addition, for the CALLISTO eye user, IOL parameters (eg. target axis) and other surgical assistance data are transferred automatically and IOL verification can be easily achieved by comparing the IOL information with the data on the CALLISTO eye screen.
When the standard DICOM data transfer via the clinic and theatre network is not available, the ZEISS EQ Mobile app for iOS ensures that the biometry and surgical planning data is available anytime and anywhere. EQ Mobile automatically uploads this data to the cloud for remote access via iPad or iPhone. This gives access to relevant data wherever and whenever required, which is especially beneficial if the data has to be available at several theatres. The data is transferred via an ad-hoc wireless transfer to CALLISTO eye. This way patients can be flexibly selected, and patient data sets can be transferred from the app, allowing for ease and adaptability in the surgery list. For ZEISS IOL users, EQ Mobile even confirms the selected IOL by simply activating the patient’s planning data and then scanning the respective IOL package at hand. Once surgery is finished, a surgical report is created and can be exported to EQ Workplace.
