IntraLase Corp. Concludes 2003 with Record Fourth Quarter Laser Placements; Placements Include Three Highly Acclaimed Ophthalmic Teaching Institutions.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2004

IntraLase Corp., a privately-held ophthalmic laser company in Irvine, California, today announced the placement of 26 INTRALASE(R) FS lasers for revenue in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, bringing its number of 2003 laser placements to 67. IntraLase has now placed a total of 106 lasers globally, including placements in Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. The company sold 27,372 procedures during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, an increase of 136% as compared to the comparable quarter a year ago. The fourth quarter of 2003 also marked the completion of sales to three prestigious ophthalmic teaching institutions: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami; Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan; and Stanford University Hospital and Clinic in California.

Robert J. Palmisano, IntraLase President and CEO, commented, "We are gratified by the rapid acceptance of our technology in the vision correction industry, and the adoption by key opinion leaders, including major teaching hospitals, as IntraLase strives to become the new standard of care in LASIK vision correction."

The INTRALASE FS laser increases the safety and predictability of laser vision correction surgery by replacing the microkeratome, a bladed mechanical device used to create the corneal flap in the first step of LASIK surgery. IntraLase, which develops and manufactures the INTRALASE FS laser, commercially introduced the laser to the US market in late 2001. Important clinical data recently presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Anaheim (November 2003) demonstrated superior visual outcomes among patients whose surgery was performed using the INTRALASE FS laser to create the corneal flap. Dr. Daniel S. Durrie of Overland Park, Kansas reported improved outcomes using the INTRALASE FS laser plus Alcon Inc.'s CustomCornea(R) excimer laser treatment. In his study, 75% of patients achieved 20/20 or better uncorrected vision at day one versus 63% with the traditional microkeratome approach and the same Alcon CustomCornea treatment.

For the year ended December 31, 2003, IntraLase reported a total of 84,230 procedures sold, an increase of 184% compared to the year ending December 31, 2002, representing approximately 10% of all fourth quarter 2003 US laser vision correction procedures, according to MarketScope(R) LLC, a leading market research firm reporting on the industry. "Increased procedure volume in 2003 was driven by the growing installed base and number of surgeons converting their practices to IntraLase technology. Credible clinical data, as well as patient preference, is now convincing surgeons that the INTRALASE FS laser provides a compelling advantage in the care of their patients," concluded Mr. Palmisano.

The Company plans to demonstrate its INTRALASE(R) FS laser to the European market in late January at the 2004 European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Meeting in Barcelona. Commercialization is expected to follow during the second quarter, pending CE certification.

For more information on IntraLase Corp. and its proprietary femtosecond laser technology, visit www.intralase.com.

Editorial available: Photos, graphics, research and surgeon interviews.

Contact: Trudy Larkins, Director of Marketing and Communications, 1-877-393-2020, ext. 192; [e-mail]. Mr. Palmisano may be reached at 1-877-393-2020, ext. 204.