Coronado Industries Pleased With Success After Two Year Follow Up With Study Patients; 52% Were Able to Discontinue Medication, While 48% Reduced Medication By Half.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 6, 2000

Coronado Industries Inc. (OTC BB:CDIK) (www.coronadoindustries.com) announced today that after a two year follow-up with patients of the Arizona Glaucoma Institute's Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty study, 52 percent of the patients treated were able to discontinue their use of medication and still maintain the same intraocular pressure or have it lowered.

The other 48 percent were able to reduce their medication by 50 percent.

"This is fabulous," says Gary Smith, president of Coronado Industries, Inc. "Some patients that were newly diagnosed as having glaucoma never needed to start medications. Others that were taking two drops per day, and were ready to start a third, went down to zero or one. Several patients that were scheduled for a laser procedure were able to control their pressure without it."

"Let me explain why this is so important," continued Smith. "Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. The most common treatment is medication in drop form. Unfortunately, these drops have devastating side effects. Not all suffer from these side effects, of course, however, the risk is clearly present."

Information available through the American Academy of Ophthalmology gives an example of commonly used medications and their noted side effects. These medications are broken down into different groups.

This is only a random sampling from their list:

Topical Beta Blocker

(Selective) Beta 1 Blocker

Betaxolol (Betoptic or Betoptic S) Manufactured by Alcon

Topical Beta Blockers (Non Selective)

Timolol (Timoptic) Manufactured by Merck (NYSE:MRK)

Levobunolol (Betagan) Manufactured by Allergan (NYSE:AGN)

Side Effects of Topical Beta Blocker: Congestive heart failure; Bronchospasm; Bradycardia; Depression; Confusion; Impotence; Worsening of myasthenia gravis 

Topical Adrenergic Agonists

Alphagan Manufactured by Allergan (NYSE:AGN)

Zalatan Manufactured by Pharmacia-Upjohn (NYSE:PNU)

Side Effects of Topical Adrenergic Agonists: (Systemic) Increased Blood Pressure; Tachyarrhythmia; Tremor; Headache; Anxiety. (Ocular) Burning on Instillation; Conjunctival injection; Pupullary dialation; Allergic reactions.

Topical Cholinergic Agonists (Short Acting)

Pilocarpine (Drops & Gel) Manufactured by MGI Pharma

(NASDAQ: MOGN)

Side Effects of Topical Cholinergic Agonists: (Systemic) Increased Bronchial secretion; Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Apnea *with aceleylcholinestase inhibitors after succinylcholine administration. (Ocular) Increased myopia; Eye or brow pain; Decreased vision.

"Now, please do not misunderstand, these drops are effective and important in the fight against glaucoma. However, they do come with risk," said Smith. "Our PNT(TM) procedure has been very successful in the majority of patients treated over the last five years, without any adverse side effects reported to date. This is why we are so excited to be in a position to help these people and lower the risk of treatment is a very exciting possibility. When our FDA approval process is complete we feel PNT(TM) and our equipment will be the choice of the future," added Smith.

Approximately 66.8 million people worldwide suffer from primary glaucoma according to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study. Glaucoma is a progressive disease and is the second leading cause of blindness. Over 7.5 million Americans suffer from glaucoma.

Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged by high intraocular pressure (IOP). The optic nerve is responsible for sending impulses to the brain, which translates those signals into sight. When the nerve is damaged, the signals cease to be transmitted and loss of vision occurs.

Currently, patients rely on eye drops or surgery to lower IOP. Coronado Industries' PNT(TM) technology is a non-invasive medical procedure that lessens, if not eliminates patients' dependence on drops without the risk and cost of surgery.

Applicable to open-angle and pigmentary glaucoma, the two most common types of glaucoma, PNT(TM) uses a suction device that is applied to the eye for one to two minuets. The treatment is proven safe and effective with no known side effects and is less costly than traditional therapies.

Often one treatment is sufficient, but there is no risk in subsequent treatments if needed, as frequently as every three months.

Evaluation of approximately four years of data from an ongoing study of patients receiving PNT(TM) has shown the procedure, originally designed to treat Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), pigmentary glaucoma and glaucoma associated with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule, is of value in treating ocular hypertension, as well.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements contained in this release which are not historical are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain delays beyond the company's control with respect to market acceptance of new technologies and products, delays in testing and evaluation of products, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Coronado Industries, through its two wholly owned subsidiaries American Glaucoma and Ophthalmic International, manufactures devices to treat forms of glaucoma and offers glaucoma diagnosis and treatment under an I.D.E Study (Investigational Device Exemption).

Pending FDA approval, Coronado will license its patented treatment procedure and equipment in the United States. Coronado's Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty (PNT(TM)) procedure uses a non-invasive, patented, low-cost pneumatic device that has proven to be an effective and safe treatment option for glaucoma.

In December 1998, Coronado was granted a CE Mark from the European Commission, which serves as a "passport" to allow a manufacturer to freely sell its products within the European Marketplace.