Bausch + Lomb launches Bi-Blade+ vitrectomy cutter in Europe

Bausch + Lomb said on May 7, 2026, that it has launched its Bi-Blade+ dual-port vitrectomy cutter in Europe for use with the Stellaris Elite Vision Enhancement System. The company says the device runs at 25,000 cuts per minute, delivers a 25% higher average flow rate than the prior Bi-Blade model, and is designed for anterior and posterior segment vitrectomy procedures. The European launch follows U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance announced on April 8, 2026, for both Bi-Blade+ and an Adaptive Fluidics update on the same platform. (streetinsider.com)

Why it matters: This is human ophthalmic surgery news rather than a veterinary product launch, but it still matters to veterinary professionals who track surgical platform innovation. Faster cut rates, higher flow, and lower vibration are the kinds of engineering changes that can shape expectations around precision tissue removal, surgeon control, and intraoperative pressure stability across microsurgical fields. Bausch + Lomb also says pairing the cutter with Adaptive Fluidics reduced average infusion pressure and helped keep intraocular pressure in a narrower range during high-vacuum use, which speaks to the broader trend toward smarter fluidics and more automated surgical control. (streetinsider.com)

What to watch: Watch for whether Bausch + Lomb expands regulatory clearances beyond Europe and the U.S., and whether published clinical data, not just bench and preclinical testing, follow. (streetinsider.com)