IntraLase Offers Free Access to Laser Corneal Transplantation for Patients Suffering from Vision Loss Due to Fusarium Keratitis.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Company Donates Use of Lasers at Four Sites across the U.S. to Those Facing Blindness Due to Recent Outbreak of Eye Infections; IntraLase FS Laser First and Only Laser in U.S. for Corneal Transplants

IntraLase Corp. (Nasdaq:ILSE) announced today that patients requiring corneal transplant surgery resulting from the recent outbreak of Fusarium keratitis eye infection can take advantage of the benefits of corneal transplantation with the advanced IntraLase(R) FS Laser free of charge.

Four of the top ophthalmic centers in the country will be providing the laser-enabled corneal transplant procedures, including: The Corneal Research Foundation of America in Indianapolis, The University of California at Irvine Department of Ophthalmology, Slade and Baker Vision in Houston and Laser Eye Consultants of Boston.

The IntraLase(R) FS Laser is the first laser in the U.S. used to create innovative corneal incisions for full thickness corneal transplants. IntraLase Corp. will be donating the use of the laser for Fusarium keratitis patients throughout 2006. Patients will be responsible for the surgeon and hospital fees associated with the procedure.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the over 120 patients impacted by the recent outbreak of Fusarium eye infections, 30 percent have required corneal transplants. This represents a four-fold increase in cases reported over the previous year and is largely attributed to use of certain contact lens solution products.

"Unfortunately, some of these patients are left with no other option than a corneal transplant. The new application of our laser in corneal transplant surgery gives us a unique opportunity to assist those in need. We hope this gesture will not only alleviate some of the out-of-pocket expense associated with corneal transplant surgery, but also provide a sense of security and a rapid return to functional vision," said Robert J. Palmisano, president and CEO of IntraLase. The precision of the ultra-fast femtosecond laser allows the surgeon to create precisely shaped incisions that enable the tissue to fit together much like a puzzle. This may provide a more stable graft that potentially requires fewer sutures and speeds patient healing and visual recovery.

"The use of a laser in corneal transplantation marks the single greatest advance in the procedure in more than 50 years," said Palmisano. "The results achieved with the IntraLase laser technology show that corneal transplantation can be more than a therapy for saving sight, but also a refractive procedure that can offer better vision." The IntraLase FS Laser is the first femtosecond laser cleared for use in a variety of refractive and corneal surgeries including LASIK, and intrastromal incisions used with ring implants, lamellar keratoplasty, penetrating keratoplasty, and for the preparation of the donor tissue used in corneal transplants. The IntraLase FS laser has demonstrated its superior capability in creating corneal incisions with micron-level accuracy unmatched by hand-held or mechanical blades.

"At UC Irvine we have the largest single site experience worldwide with femtosecond laser incisions for corneal transplantation and we consider the laser the technology of choice for the procedure," said Roger F. Steinert, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and director of cornea, refractive and cataract surgery at UCI and 2005-2006 president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. "We are grateful to IntraLase for their humanitarian aid to Fusarium patients."

About Corneal Transplantation

Corneal transplantation has restored sight to thousands who otherwise would be blind due to corneal injury, infection, or inherited corneal disease or degeneration. Corneal transplantation replaces a diseased or scarred cornea with a new one by having the central portion of the cornea surgically removed and replaced with corneal tissue donated through an eye bank. In 2005 more than 48,000 corneal transplants were performed in the U.S. Patients can learn more about accessing the corneal transplant procedure with the advanced IntraLase FS laser by calling 877-393-2020, ext. 318 or e-mailing [e-mail] or by contacting one of the provider centers directly.

About IntraLase Corp.

IntraLase designs, develops, and manufactures an ultra-fast laser that is revolutionizing refractive and corneal surgery by creating safe and more precise corneal incisions. Delivering on the promise of ophthalmic laser technology, the IntraLase FS laser, related software, and disposable devices replace the hand-held microkeratome blade used during LASIK surgery. The unsurpassed accuracy of IntraLase's computer-controlled femtosecond laser has been shown to improve safety profiles and visual outcomes when used during LASIK. Additionally, the IntraLase FS laser creates precision-designed intracorneal incisions that when combined can be used during lamellar and penetrating keratoplasties and intrastromal ring implantation. IntraLase is presently in the process of commercializing applications of its technology in the treatment of corneal diseases that require corneal transplant surgery. The company's proprietary laser and disposable patient interfaces are presently marketed throughout the United States and 31 other countries. IntraLase has headquarters and manufactures its products in Irvine.. For additional information, visit the company's Web site: www.intralase.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical information are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the degree of continued acceptance of LASIK surgery; potential complications revealed by long-term follow up; the extent of adoption of our product offering by LASIK surgeons; general economic conditions; changes in federal tax laws governing the ability of potential LASIK patients to use pre-tax dollars to pay for LASIK surgery; the scope of government regulation applicable to our products; patients' willingness to pay for LASIK surgery; our ability to compete against our competitors; the effectiveness of our measures to ensure full payment of procedure fees; the occurrence and outcome of product liability suits against us; our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property; whether we become subject to claims of infringement or misappropriation of the intellectual property rights of others; the continued availability of supplies from single-source suppliers and manufacturers of our key laser components; the ability of our managers, operations, and facilities to manage our growth; the success of our expansion into markets outside the United States; whether we lose any of our key executives or fail to attract qualified personnel; or if our new products or applications fail to become commercially viable.

Certain of these risks and uncertainties, in addition to other risks, are more fully described in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Aug. 1, 2006.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.