Life without glasses is great
Dr. Andrea Janeková, MD, Ph.D., FEBO, FEBOS-CR, and Head of the Department of Cataract, Refractive and Vitreoretinal Surgery at Eye Centre Prague became one of the first surgeons in the world to implant a new toric intraocular lens developed by ZEISS Medical Technology, the AT LUCIA toric 721P. This milestone, performed on April 13, 2026, positions Czech medicine at the forefront of global advances in modern cataract surgery.
Eleven selected centers worldwide have begun working with the new lens. Prague has thus symbolically opened the clinical use of this new generation of implants on an international scale. Such a premiere is typically reserved for only a limited number of centers and surgeons worldwide and reflects an exceptional level of trust in our expertise.
The first implantation was performed by Dr. Janeková, who is considered among the leading ophthalmic surgeons in Europe. She performs approximately 3,000 intraocular surgeries annually, and her clinical practice is closely linked to the development and implementation of the most advanced technologies in ophthalmology. Each year, she also lectures at the most prestigious European and international congresses, including in the USA and Canada.
Her selection for this first implantation was therefore no coincidence. It reflects not only her surgical expertise, but above all her ability to achieve highly predictable refractive outcomes and to systematically work with modern surgical planning approaches.
“The opportunity to implant this new intraocular lens as one of the first in the world is both a great professional honor and a responsibility. Every such step advances not only the technology itself, but above all the quality of care we are able to provide to our patients. We deeply appreciate the trust that ZEISS has placed in me and in our center,” says Dr. Janeková.
The new intraocular lens from ZEISS represents a patented aspheric monofocal bitoric design on a fully preloaded hydrophobic C-loop platform. It is designed to simultaneously correct cataract and astigmatism, ensure long-term stability and precise positioning within the eye, provide high predictability of refractive outcomes and deliver long-term visual performance. The combination of advanced optical design and modern material provides patients with excellent visual results and long-term stability. More details about the lens are available at http://www.zeiss.com/at-lucia-toric.
The first patient was a 77-year-old woman, Ms. Šárka Vrzalová, who underwent cataract surgery in both eyes.
Excellent results were achieved in the early postoperative period:
“As early as the first day after surgery, the patient achieved 100% visual acuity and her astigmatism was fully corrected. She can now see clearly and sharply without distortion. This level of predictability and stability is one of the key benefits of the new generation of toric intraocular lenses,” says Dr. Janeková
The patient herself describes the outcome very positively:
“Before the surgery, my vision was poor and everything appeared grey. Now I see clearly, in color, and at a distance. My near vision has also improved; the doctor corrected not only my cataract but also my astigmatism,” says Ms. Vrzalová.
The selection of Eye Centre Prague for this milestone was the result of a long-term collaboration with ZEISS, active participation in clinical studies, and above all, trust in a specific surgeon.
“At ZEISS Medical Technology, we value our trusted partnerships with leading surgeons around the world, such as Dr. Andrea Janeková,” says Frank Seitzinger, Head of Business Sector Surgery Anterior Segment, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. “We were thrilled to work with her to perform one of the first implantations of the ZEISS AT LUCIA toric 721P intraocular lens.”
The implantation of this new intraocular lens was also documented directly in the operating room for the purposes of international scientific presentation and sharing of the first clinical experiences.
Dr. Janeková thus belongs to a very select group of surgeons worldwide who have the opportunity to work with a new generation of implants prior to broader clinical adoption.
This milestone confirms that Czech ophthalmology is not merely following technological developments, but actively contributing to shaping them. For patients, this means enhanced safety, more stable outcomes, and better quality of vision. For the professional community, it sends a clear signal that cutting-edge medicine is also being created in the Czech Republic.
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