ECU Health Chief of Ophthalmology Services Dr. Ann Ostrovsky successfully performed the health system’s first procedures with the Alcon UNITY Vitreoretinal Cataract System, an advancement in ophthalmic surgery that merges cataract and retina capabilities into one integrated platform. 

ECU Health Medical Center is the first hospital in North Carolina to obtain a UNITY VCS.

“As a physician serving eastern North Carolina, it is imperative that we integrate the most advanced surgical technologies into our local care delivery,” said Ostrovsky. “This technology allows us to offer high-precision ophthalmic procedures, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel long distances. By improving intraoperative stability and reducing energy delivery to ocular tissues, we are enhancing both safety and recovery outcomes while maintaining access to high-quality care close to home.”

According to Ostrovsky, the UNITY VCS enhances eye stability during procedures, reduces intraocular pressure and minimizes energy use within the eye. 

These improvements translate into shorter operating times, gentler procedures and faster visual recovery for patients undergoing cataract or retinal surgery. 

Thanks to these technological advances, patients with advanced cataracts and retinal disease are now experiencing dramatically improved outcomes.

Many cataract surgery patients are achieving excellent vision as early as the day after surgery, an extraordinary leap forward compared to the extended hospital stays and long recoveries that were common just a few decades ago, according to Ostrovsky. 

ECU Health’s newly appointed vitreoretinal surgeon, Dr. Peter Jones, will also leverage the UNITY VCS to treat complex retinal conditions, including diabetic and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.

“This milestone reflects ECU Health’s deep commitment to bringing cutting-edge care to the communities we serve,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer of ECU Health. “Innovative technologies allow us to deliver world-class treatment without requiring patients to travel far from home. ECU Health is meeting people where they are and ensuring that rural eastern North Carolina has access to high-quality care close to home.”