Global Vision Inc. brings the first excimer laser to N.E. Florida.JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 1995--Global Vision Inc., a privately held refractive refractive capacity to refract light. refractive error a difference between the focal length of the cornea and lens, and the length of the eye, resulting in myopia or hyperopia. laser company, announced Monday that it has installed one of the first commercially available excimer lasers in the United States and the first in northeast Florida. On Aug. 3, 1995, Jerry W. Maida, M.D., a renowned ophthalmic surgeon in Florida, and chairman of Global Vision Inc., will perform phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK PTK Phi Theta Kappa PTK Protein Tyrosine Kinase (insulin receptor) PTK Polskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego (Polish Cardiac Society) PTK Phototherapeutic Keratectomy PTK Pairwise Transient Key ) using the excimer laser on several area patients. The company believes these will be the first patients in the state of Florida to benefit from this long awaited technology. Charles Adams, M.D. and Jerry Coluccelli, M.D., area ophthalmic surgeons associated with Global Vision Inc. will also participate. On March 10, 1995, the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. approved the excimer laser for PTK to be used to correct certain forms of eye disorders. PTK can relieve chronic eye pain, remove unpleasant, obvious cosmetic scars on the cornea, and sometimes even cure blindness. Most people who will benefit from PTK would otherwise have to turn to a higher risk, significantly more costly corneal transplant. The excimer laser uses a form of highly concentrated ultraviolet light projected as a column of densely compacted rays. This beam of light has the ability to vaporize va·por·ize v. To convert or be converted into a vapor. Vaporize To dissolve solid material or convert it into smoke or gas. and remove layers of soft tissues (including eye and corneal tissue) without damaging any adjacent or underlying tissues or cells. The laser can remove one-quarter of a millionth of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a second. The procedure is performed in a laser vision correction center, eliminating the inconvenience and expense of hospitalization. It is painless and typically takes less than one minute to perform the actual laser treatment. The future for laser eye surgery is exciting. The most popular use for the laser is expected to be photorefractive keratectomy (PRK PRK photorefractive keratectomy. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) A procedure that uses an excimer laser to make modifications to the cornea and permanently correct myopia. ) in which the laser beam will reshape a healthy cornea to correct nearsightedness nearsightedness or myopia, defect of vision in which far objects appear blurred but near objects are seen clearly. Because the eyeball is too long or the refractive power of the eye's lens is too strong, the image is focused in front of the . This will correct vision problems and eliminate the need for eyeglasses eyeglasses or spectacles, instrument or device for aiding and correcting defective sight. Eyeglasses usually consist of a pair of lenses mounted in a frame to hold them in position before the eyes. and contact lenses in millions of Americans. FDA approval of the excimer laser for PRK is expected by the end of 1995. Global Vision Inc. owns and operates laser vision care centers in the United States. CONTACT: Global Vision Inc., Jacksonville Joann B. Rushing, Vice President Marketing and Public Relations 904/355-5111 |
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion