Autonomous Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter Results.

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 9, 1998--Autonomous Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ATCI) today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.

For the fourth quarter, the Company reported a net loss of $3,273,055, or a basic net loss of $0.33 per share on 9,958,832 average common shares outstanding, compared with a net loss of $2,838,747, or a basic net loss of $0.42 per share on 6,753,012 average common shares outstanding, for the same quarter a year ago.

For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Company reported a net loss of $11,639,356, or a basic net loss of $1.43 per share on 8,151,395 average common shares outstanding, compared with a net loss of $9,008,044, or a basic net loss of $2.36 per share on 3,812,039 average common shares outstanding, for the same period a year ago.

The Company's losses increased during the quarter and full year as the Company continues to prepare for its commercial activities in both international and U.S. markets. The Company's PMA for its LADARVision(R) System is scheduled to be reviewed at a meeting of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Ophthalmic Devices Panel on February 13, 1998.

At year-end, the Company's cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $7.3 million.

The prior quarterly and full-year figures have been restated to comply with the new Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 regarding the calculation and presentation of operating results on a per-share basis. The Company is not required to present diluted net loss per-share figures due to the fact that the Company's stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock that were outstanding in the various periods presented are anti-dilutive for purposes of the diluted net loss per share computation.

Autonomous Technologies is engaged in the design and development of the next generation excimer laser instruments for laser refractive surgery. The Company's LADARVision System instrument combines high speed, laser radar eye-tracking with precisely controlled, narrow-beam shaping technology. -0-

The statements in this press release which express belief, anticipation or expectations, such as the scheduled PMA Panel review, as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from the results or performance described herein. -0-

                AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                    (A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE COMPANY)
                       STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                           (UNAUDITED)


                                        Three Months Ended
                                 Dec. 31, 1997        Dec. 31, 1996
                                  ------------------------------
REVENUES - LADARVision
System & Products                  $   26,065            $   -

REVENUES FROM RESEARCH GRANTS            -                   -

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Costs of revenues -
 LADARVision
 System & Products                     70,364                -
Costs of revenues -
  research grants                         -                  -

  Clinical trials                     821,868            561,887
  Research and development            578,626            859,990
  Selling and marketing               463,229            402,059
  General and administrative          581,996            655,862
  Other expenses                      902,161            552,406

OPERATING LOSS                     (3,392,179)        (3,032,204)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income                     128,959            202,714
  Interest expense                     (9,834)            (9,257)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES           (3,273,054)        (2,838,747)
INCOME TAXES                             -                  -

NET LOSS                          $(3,273,054)       $(2,838,747)

LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic net loss per share            $   (0.33)         $   (0.42)
                                    ==========        ==========
Weighted average common
and common equivalent
shares used in computing
basic net loss per share            9,958,832          6,753,012
                                    =========         ==========


                                           Year Ended
                                   Dec. 31, 1997   Dec. 31, 1996
                                 ------------------------------
REVENUES - LADARVision
System & Products                  $   37,065            $   -

REVENUES FROM RESEARCH GRANTS            -                   -

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Costs of revenues -
  LADARVision
  System & Products                   105,892                -
Costs of revenues -
 research grants                          -                  -

  Clinical trials                   2,980,317          1,715,412
  Research and development          2,954,559          3,521,381
  Selling and marketing             1,493,069          1,190,898
  General and administrative        2,328,222          1,852,351
  Other expenses                    2,355,472          1,283,874

OPERATING LOSS                    (12,180,466)        (9,563,916)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income                     582,219            581,866
  Interest expense                    (41,108)           (25,994)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES          (11,639,355)        (9,008,044)
INCOME TAXES                             -                  -

NET LOSS                         $(11,639,355)       $(9,008,044)

LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic net loss per share            $   (1.43)         $   (2.36)
                                    ==========        ==========
Weighted average common
and common equivalent
shares used in computing
basic net loss per share            8,151,395          3,812,039
                                    =========         ==========


                                    Cumulative from Inception
                                (July 23, 1985) to Dec. 31, 1997

REVENUES - LADARVision
System & Products                           $ 37,065

REVENUES FROM RESEARCH GRANTS              3,450,517

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Costs of revenues -
 LADARVision System & Products              105,892
 System & Products
Costs of revenues - research grants       3,465,596
Clinical trials                           5,870,194
Research and development                 10,308,315
Selling and marketing                     3,455,002
General and administrative                6,354,871
Other expenses                            4,014,346


OPERATING LOSS                          (30,086,634)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income                         1,287,722
  Interest expense                         (104,363)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES                (28,903,275)
INCOME TAXES                                  4,772

NET LOSS                               $(28,908,047)

CONTACT: Autonomous Technologies

Randy Frey, CEO

407/384-1600

[e-mail]

or

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:

Bruce Voss/[e-mail]

310/575-4848

Keith Lippert/[e-mail]

212/838-3777

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.