IRIDEX CEO Theodore A. Boutacoff Receives the Award of Excellence in Service from Retinoblastoma International.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 18, 1999--

IRIDEX Corp. (Nasdaq:IRIX) announced that Theodore A. Boutacoff, President and Chief Executive Officer, accepted the Award of Excellence in Service from Retinoblastoma International on Nov. 15, 1999 for recognition of his ardent support of retinoblastoma causes.

The award was presented by Dr. A. Linn Murphree at a star-studded gala which also honored Donnie and Marie Osmond for their commitment to children. The Second Annual Miracles benefit event was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A. Linn Murphree, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Retinoblastoma International, Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics and Director of The Retinoblastoma Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles commented, "We are pleased to recognize Mr. Boutacoff's longstanding commitment to the eradication of this disease.

"We are especially delighted with IRIDEX's early development of laser systems used to treat retinoblastoma. IRIDEX's financial support to the planning of a multi-center clinical trials program for new retinoblastoma treatments has resulted in the National Cancer Institute's funding of a clinical trials program which will begin shortly.

"Such support of programs that benefit children is worthy of our Award of Excellence in Service."

Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer that arises from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes of the developing human fetus, newborns, infants and toddlers under the age of 5 years. This tumor is universally fatal if not treated before it spreads from the eye. It can often be detected by simply dilating the pupils of an infant during the first few well-baby exams.

An estimated 8,000 cases of retinoblastoma are reported each year worldwide, 7,000 of which are fatal. The majority of deaths occur in developing countries, where a delay in diagnosis and a lack of expert medical care contributes to the high fatality rate. The tumors begin as tiny elevations in the retina and expand exponentially with time, eventually filling the eye.

With early diagnosis, the disease is treatable with laser and chemotherapy, which usually saves both the child's life and eyesight.

Boutacoff said, "I feel greatly honored to receive the Award of Excellence in Service. I accept it for all of the employees at IRIDEX who have contributed over the past eight years to developing devices to successfully treat this deadly childhood cancer. I view IRIDEX as a tool maker.

"Although semiconductor-based medical laser systems are very sophisticated devices, they are still just tools. The doctors who master the tools are the craftsman who create the miracles."

"The laser technique used to treat retinoblastoma is called transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT)," continued Boutacoff. "The successful use of the TTT approach for the treatment of retinoblastoma inspired physicians to treat other tumors and retinal diseases using this technique.

"For example, TTT has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of choroidal melanoma; and, last month, a study published in Ophthalmology cited the benefits of treating a wet form of age-related macular degeneration with TTT.

"Thus, the TTT treatment approach that was first developed to benefit a few thousand children each year with retinoblastoma and subsequently was used to treat tens of thousands of patients with choroidal melanoma, now appears may benefit hundreds of thousands of new patients per year suffering from age-related macular degeneration."

Retinoblastoma International is a non-profit California corp. dedicated to the eradication of blindness and death in infants and children worldwide from the childhood eye cancer, retinoblastoma.

The organization, headquartered at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, is committed to the worldwide elimination of childhood blindness and death caused by retinoblastoma through its ongoing support of programs in education, research, and clinical care.

At its annual Miracles event, the Board of Retinoblastoma International recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to programs for children and who share their dedication to children.

IRIDEX Corp. is the leading worldwide provider of semiconductor-based laser systems used to treat eye diseases for ophthalmology and skin lesions for dermatology. IRIDEX products are sold in the United States through a direct sales force and internationally through 65 independent distributors into 74 countries.

The Company markets its products using three brand names: IRIS Medical to the ophthalmic market, IRIDERM to the dermatological market, and Light Solutions to the research market. IRIDEX was recognized as one of the fastest-growing 100 public companies in Silicon Valley by The Business Journal in their 1999 listing. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.iridex.com.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject may include, but may not necessarily be limited to, continued market acceptance of products, dependence on development of new products and new applications, dependence on collaborative relationships, competitive markets, dependence on international sales, and fluctuating quarter to quarter operating results. Other risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, managing growth, risks of manufacturing, dependence on key manufacturers and suppliers, patents and propriety rights, governmental regulation, product liability risks, volatile stock price, and the year 2000 issue. The Company incorporates by reference the risks set forth in the Company's 1998 Form 10-K which was filed on April 1, 1999, and Form 10-Q which was filed on Nov. 15, 1999, and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.