Beacon Eye Institute sees FDA approval of astigmatism treatment as key to continued growth of laser-PRK vision correction market.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1997--Beacon Eye Inc. (TSE:BEY.), which operates as Beacon Eye Institute (Beacon), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the VISX Excimer Laser System(TM) on April 25, 1997, is potentially more significant to the growth of the laser vision treatment market than was the initial March 1996 approval of the laser for treatment of low-to-moderate nearsightedness.

Keith Moore, Beacon Chairman and CEO, stated, "Beacon quarterly revenue has increased at a rate of more than 40% over the past four quarters. Approval to treat astigmatism in the U.S. with the excimer laser will be a huge factor in gaining consumer acceptance and achieving greater market growth. More than 80% of the more than 4,000 patients undergoing Laser-PRK(TM) in Beacon's Toronto vision correction center have been treated for some measure of astigmatism."

In an astigmatic eye, the cornea is not spherical, like a basketball, as is a normal eye. Instead, it contains curvatures, more like a football, which focus multiple images on the retina, resulting in distorted or blurry vision. Three of every four adults have some degree of astigmatism, and nearly 40% of all corrective lens wearers have correction for astigmatism, according to the February 1997 issue of Review of Ophthalmology.

According to the American Optometric Association, more than 130 million North Americans suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and may be candidates for Laser-PRK vision correction. Penetration of less than 1% of this potential market would create an industry of $2 billion to $4 billion annually.

The FDA approval allows eye care professionals to use the VISX excimer laser to treat adults 21 years of age or older with up to -6.0 diopters spherical myopia (nearsightedness) or -0.75 to -4.0 diopters of astigmatism (spectacle plan). (Editor's note: A diopter (D) is a unit of measurement used to determine a patient's refractive error and determine the refractive strength of a corrective lens.)

Moore further explained, "I believe that ultimately the Laser-PRK treatment process will be favored by most consumers for correcting their distance vision versus any surgical procedure in which a blade of any kind is used to modify the shape of the eye, such as radial keratotomy (RK) or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). With Laser-PRK only very small amounts of tissue (typically less than 15% of the corneal thickness, or about the thickness of a human hair) are removed from the surface of the eye by the pulsing of a precise and computer-controlled laser. In contrast, the incisional procedure (astigmatic keratotomy similar to RK) often used to correct astigmatism, before approval of the VISX laser, was performed with a hand-held blade making a series of cuts through about 90% of the corneal thickness to modify the structure of the eye and change its physical shape."

The VISX Excimer Laser System is the only excimer laser currently approved for the treatment of astigmatism. Beacon provides the VISX laser systems for use by qualified eye care professionals in all of its Laser-PRK vision correction centers. Moore who is a Laser-PRK patient commented, "Patient satisfaction with the procedure has been terrific with 98% of patients responding to surveys indicating they would recommend Beacon to family and friends."

During clinical trials leading to the FDA conclusion that the excimer laser was safe and efficacious in treating mild to moderate nearsightedness, all patients experienced a significant improvement in uncorrected vision. VISX reported that Bruce Jackson, MD, of the University of Ottawa Eye Institute and a VISX clinical investigator presented data showing that 98% of eyes treated with up to 6.0 D of spherical myopia and concomitant astigmatism of up to 4.0 D attained 20/40 vision (sufficient to pass most driver's license exams) without correction.

Persons interested in learning more about Laser-PRK vision correction can call Beacon's Information Response Center at 1-800-PRK-TODAY (1-800-775-8632) or visit Beacon's World Wide Web site at www.beaconeye.com .

Beacon Laser-PRK vision correction centers are located in Toronto, Canada; San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Houston, TX; Denver, Co; Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, FL; Atlanta, GA; and Irvine, CA. Further expansion is planned as the market for laser vision treatment continues to grow.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is an "at" symbol after "kmoore" in the E-mail address below. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.

CONTACT: Beacon Eye Institute

Keith Moore, 905/897-7161 or 817/332-7590

Internet Site: www.beaconeye.com

E-mail: [e-mail]