INTACS Inserts To Be Focus of Scientific Presentations October 19-25; 20 Speakers Set to Report On Breakthrough Vision Correction Technology.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

World Refractive Surgery Symposium

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2000

The INTACS(TM) vision correction technology will be the subject of 28 scientific presentations by 20 speakers who are scheduled to appear at this year's joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and World Refractive Surgery Symposium, Oct. 19-25, 2000, in Dallas.

Developed by KeraVision, Inc. (Nasdaq:KERA), INTACS micro-thin prescription inserts are a new, FDA-approved, non-laser option for correcting -1.0 to -3.0 diopters of nearsightedness (myopia) with up to +1.0 diopters of astigmatism -- a condition that affects over 20 million adult Americans, according to industry estimates. Named one of "The Year's Top 10 Medical Advances" by CNN and Health magazine, INTACS inserts are a flexible and convenient option to eyeglasses, contact lenses and vision correction surgeries that permanently alter the eye's central optical zone.

Scheduled presentations will focus on the company's initial product, INTACS inserts for nearsightedness, and on clinical studies in which the INTACS insert technology is being evaluated as a possible treatment for additional vision problems. These include farsightedness (hyperopia), keratoconus (corneal thinning disease), astigmatism, and a wider range of myopia than currently approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA.

The schedule includes:

-- Keynote Lecture: "INTACS for Myopia: Indications, Surgical Techniques and
Results;" "INTACS Maintain Future Options for Correcting Refractive Effect,"
and "INTACS Intracorneal Rings: Non-Laser Refractive Surgery," by Penny Asbell,
M.D., Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY

-- "Improving Outcomes with the ICRS (INTACS inserts)," by Bradley Fouraker,
M.D., Brannan Eye Center, Orlando, FL

-- "The Case for ICRS (INTACS inserts)" and "ICRS: New Applications," by Kerry
Assil, M.D., Aris Vision, Santa Monica, CA

-- "Expanding Your Refractive Practice with INTACS;" "INTACS in the Real World:
Commercial Experience After One Year of Integration," and "Results for the CRS
(Clinical Research and Statistics) Study of INTACS in Keratoconus," by
Deepinder Dhaliwal, M.D., University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh,
PA

-- "INTACS for Keratoconus" and "ICRS (INTACS inserts) in Keratoconus," by
Joseph Colin, M.D., Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

-- "KeraVision Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (INTACS inserts) for
Keratoconus," by Charalambos Siganos, M.D., University of Crete School of
Health, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

-- "Quality of Life of Keratoconic Contact Lens Wearers," by Florence Malet,
M.D., Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

-- "Preliminary European Experience with the ICS (INTACS inserts) for Treatment
of Hyperopia," by Jose Guell, M.D., Institute of Ocular Microsurgery of
Barcelona, Spain

-- "The ICS (INTACS inserts) for Correction of Hyperopia: Evaluation of
Different Design Configurations," by Laura Gomez, M.D., Codet Eye Institute,
Tijuana, Mexico

-- "KeraVision INTACS with LASIK in Thin Corneas," by Charles Casebeer, M.D.,
Clinical Research Statistics, Scottsdale, AZ

-- "ICRS (INTACS inserts) After Undercorrected Myopic LASIK," by Andrew Moyes,
M.D., NovaMed EyeCare Midwest, Kansas City, MO

-- "PRK vs. LASIK vs. ISR (INTACS inserts) for the Correction of Low Myopia,"
by Marshall B. Hamil, M.D., Baylor Eye Consultants, Houston, TX

-- "Preliminary European Experience with INTACS for Correcting Myopia with
Astigmatism," by Gunther Grabner, M.D., St. Johanns-Spital, Salzburg, Austria

-- "INTACS: Non-laser Correction for Refractive Surgery for Myopia," by Dan
Durrie, M.D., Hunkeler Eye Centers of Kansas City, MO

-- "Simultaneous Wavefront Measurements Before and After Refractive Surgery,"
by Thomas Silvestrini, M.S., KeraVision, Inc., Fremont, CA

-- "Adjusting Visual Outcomes with INTACS: FDA-Monitored Clinical Trial
Results," by Steven Verity, M.D., Anheuser Busch Eye Institute, St. Louis, MO

-- "Management of Complications with the INTACS Procedure for Myopia" and
"Results from the CRS (Clinical Research and Statistics) Study of INTACS in
Thin Corneas in LASIK," by Joseph Fleming, M.D., Aris Vision, Glendale, CA

-- "INTACS Explantation," by Thomas Clinch, M.D., University Ophthalmic
Consultants of Washington, Washington, D.C.

-- "In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Lamellar Channel Deposits with INTACS" and
"Ocular Optical Aberration After Refractive Surgery: Preliminary Case Studies,"
by Terry Burris, M.D., Northwest Corneal Services, Portland, OR

-- "Preoperative Risk Factors for Postoperative Visual Symptoms with INTACS for
Myopia," by Debby Holmes-Higgin, M.S., M.P.H., KeraVision, Inc., Fremont, CA

The joint meeting of the AAO and World Refractive Surgery Symposium is one of the major ophthalmic medical conferences in the world, each year attracting more than 37,000 attendees worldwide.

KeraVision, founded in 1986, is the developer of INTACS micro-thin prescription inserts for people with -1.0 to -3.0 diopters of myopia and up to +1.0 diopters of astigmatism. Approved by the FDA in 1999, INTACS inserts were named one of "The Year's Top 10 Medical Advances" by both CNN and Health magazine. INTACS inserts are a flexible and convenient option to eyeglasses, contact lenses and vision correction surgeries that alter the eye's central optical zone. The company's patented vision correction technology is also being developed for the possible treatment of hyperopia (farsightedness); myopia (nearsightedness) in wider ranges than presently approved by the FDA; astigmatism; and keratoconus, a corneal thinning disease.

Except for the historical information, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including market acceptance of KeraVision INTACS inserts, complications relating to the product or the surgical procedure, uncertainties and delays in obtaining regulatory approvals, competitive products and technologies, and other risk factors described under the heading "Risk Factors Affecting the Company, Its Business and Its Stock Price" contained in Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1999 and in Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000.

To learn if you are a candidate for INTACS micro-thin prescription inserts, take our quick vision test at www.GetIntacs.com.

Note to Editors: KERAVISION and INTACS are protected trademarks of KeraVision, Inc. in the U.S. and foreign countries.