Jul 23 2008
LCA-Vision Inc., a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus(R) brand, today announced that one million laser vision correction procedures have been performed at its LasikPlus(R) vision centers. LCA-Vision opened its first laser vision correction center in Cincinnati, Ohio shortly after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the technology to perform procedures in October 1995.
"We are excited to reach this key milestone of one million laser vision correction procedures, which we attribute to our company-wide ability to stay in step with evolving technology as we transform the lives of thousands of patients," said LCA-Vision's Chief Executive Officer Steve Straus. "I would like to thank our employees and surgeons for their hard work and dedication to our company, and for their commitment to treating more than 500,000 patients. For nearly 13 years, they have provided positive experiences and excellent clinical outcomes that are the hallmark of the LasikPlus(R) brand."
The celebration procedure was performed by Dr. Eugene Smith at the company's Galleria LasikPlus(R) vision center, located in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. Representing LasikPlus(R) as the patient who received the one millionth procedure is Jenny Conley, a Canton, Georgia resident who was referred to LasikPlus(R) by friends and co-workers who also had their LASIK procedures performed by Dr. Smith. Dr Smith performed the iLASIK(TM) procedure on Conley. The iLASIK(TM) procedure uses the industry's most advanced technology from Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) at every step - from Conley's personal vision evaluation where Dr. Smith created an individualized 3-D map of her eyes using WaveScan(TM) technology; to a precise flap using the IntraLase(R) laser, and finishing with excimer laser vision correction using VISX technology, all part of AMO's Advanced CustomVue(TM) procedure, one of the most customized forms of laser vision correction available today.
"Laser refractive surgery has gone through an amazing evolution since the technology was first developed in the 1980s. Ten years ago there were only two laser refractive procedures available to consumers in the United States, PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and traditional LASIK (Laser in situ Keratomileusis)," said Dr. Smith. "Over the years, as newer technology has won FDA approval, laser vision correction has become available to a broader segment of the population. Today, more people are potential candidates than ever before. Advances in iris registration and pupil tracking technology as well as FDA approval of hyperopia, wavefront and femtosecond treatments makes laser vision correction a safe and effective option available to many more people than in the past."
Since the FDA first approved the technology to perform the procedure in the United States in 1995, LCA-Vision has been at the forefront of the laser vision correction industry. In December 1995, the company opened one of the first laser vision correction centers in the United States and performed some of the first laser vision correction procedures shortly after FDA approval. In July 1999, LCA-Vision introduced the "LasikPlus" brand name at its laser vision correction center in Baltimore, Maryland. Shortly thereafter, in an effort to build consumer awareness of its laser vision correction centers across the United States, and to increase awareness of the benefits of the procedure, the company began to rename all of its vision centers. Today, there are 77 LasikPlus(R) vision centers serving 60 markets in 34 states. The company's strategy for the future is to operate more than 120 LasikPlus(R) vision centers located within the top 100 markets in the United States.