Zeiss Launches Next-Gen Robotic SMILE Pro Platform in China, Accelerated by Lecheng Medical Innovation Zone

China Finance and Economics News, March 3rd: Recently, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan ("Lecheng Pilot Zone") hosted a technological feast in the field of ophthalmic medicine — the launch celebration of Carl Zeiss' new generation robotic full-femtosecond VISUMAX 800 and minimally invasive surgical technology SMILE pro in China.

Jia Ning, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Lecheng Pilot Zone Administration, stated that Lecheng is promoting the introduction of advanced international medical technologies through policy and innovative ecosystems, allowing Chinese patients to "benefit earlier."

According to reports, the newly launched VISUMAX 800 robotic SMILE platform, designed with intelligent robotics at its core, is equipped with the upgraded minimally invasive SMILE pro technology. It can complete single-eye scanning within 10 seconds, improving surgical efficiency by 36%. The device not only shortens operation time but also optimizes procedures through a full-process digital system, significantly lowering the learning curve for doctors. After being first introduced in 2022 via the Boao "Clinical Urgent Import" policy, it has successfully performed surgeries on hundreds of patients and received nationwide market approval in China this January, supported by real-world evidence from Boao.

As the only "medical special zone" in China, Lecheng Pilot Zone has become a "fast track" for international innovative medical technologies to enter China, thanks to policies such as special drug and device approvals and real-world research. Jia Ning introduced that, to date, Lecheng has introduced more than 460 international innovative drugs and medical devices, benefiting over 100,000 patients. Twenty international drugs and medical devices have been accelerated for domestic market entry in China with the help of real-world data from Lecheng to assist clinical evaluations, and three products have been included in the national medical insurance catalog through the Lecheng real-world data medical insurance application pilot program. "The implementation of Carl Zeiss' new equipment is a typical result of policy synergy with industry-university-research collaboration."

"Lecheng is committed to becoming a pioneer in global ophthalmic medical innovation," Jia Ning revealed. The zone has built four major platforms: real-world research, medical-engineering transformation, international clinical trials, and investment financing. It has also attracted the "China Eye Valley" team, led by Professor Qu Jia, the president of Wenzhou Medical University's Ophthalmology Hospital Group, to join Lecheng’s medical-engineering transformation platform. "We are building an ecosystem that aggregates resources, enabling enterprises, hospitals, and experts to jointly promote technological iteration. Through Lecheng's pilot initiatives, doctors in China can receive training in advanced international technologies simultaneously."

From a 10-second technological breakthrough to the application of real-world data, from policy innovation to ecosystem construction, the launch of Carl Zeiss' new equipment not only demonstrates the acceleration of China's healthcare reform but also reveals the innovative logic behind Lucheng Pilot Zone’s efforts to build a medical ecosystem. As technology and policy resonate, the "ultra-fast intelligent" era of China's ophthalmic healthcare is rapidly approaching.