Ophthonix iZon Wavefront-Guided Lenses Conquer the Challenges of Night Driving; Significant Improvement in Reaction Time Wearing iZon Lenses.

SAN DIEGO -- Ophthonix, a company producing "high definition" vision technology that provides consumers with superior optical clarity and crispness compared to any other available vision correction, announced today at the American Academy of Optometry being held in San Diego that clinical results demonstrate that night driving vision is greatly improved with the iZon Wavefront-Guided glasses.

Results show that the iZon Wavefront-Guided lenses improve a driver's ability to identify pedestrians by an average of 330 milliseconds when compared to conventional lenses. "In other words, that means a driver can see a pedestrian or situation at about 30 feet sooner at 55 mph, which is comparable to about three car lengths or the distance across a typical intersection," explained Andreas Dreher, Ph.D., president and CEO of Ophthonix. "That 3/10 of a second could be a lifesaver."

"Nighttime driving is cited by consumers as one of their greatest vision challenges -- a vision torture test," said Dr. Dreher. "With iZon Eyeglasses, they can overcome this challenge and receive unsurpassed clarity."

The study was conducted in a controlled FDA-validated Night Driving Simulator with 30 subjects. During the test, computer-controlled targets were displayed in video night driving scenes which simulated 55 mph on a rural road. The only difference between the lenses tested in the study was that the iZon Eyeglasses included 3rd-6th higher order corrections from the wavefront measurements, while the conventional lenses contained lower order correction (sphere, cylinder and axis) only. Both pairs were identical in terms of refractive index (1.6) and coatings. The lenses were randomized and not marked so the subjects had no indication of which lenses they were wearing.

"It's very exciting to show how our vision correction technology improves safety as well as offering good vision," said Dreher. "Consumers have been telling us that their vision while driving has been significantly better, but it's great to have it clinically validated."

These results underscore the patient feedback that Ophthonix has received about the iZon lenses according to Dreher. He indicated that 83 percent of patients who purchased the lenses reported high levels of satisfaction with them for night driving. Anecdotal comments from wearers underscore this.

"When driving at night my vision is a lot clearer, a lot sharper. It's
a lot more detailed and the definition is greater; the contrast is a
lot better. I feel more comfortable going out driving long distances."
    Francisco Ramirez, Palm Desert, Calif.

"With the iZon Eyeglasses I am not afraid to go out at night. I love
to drive. I love to go out. I can see clearly and it's wonderful. I
can see people's faces; I used to never be able to see their faces."
    Michele Carden, San Diego

"I love my iZon Lenses. I wear them every time I drive at night. I
wear them when I leave the office in the evening. I just love these
lenses. As a matter of fact, I won't drive without them."
    Greg Evans, O.D., Palm Desert, Calif.

The launch in Southern California has been excellent to date indicated Dreher. "There are over 1,000 iZon Lens wearers, with over 80 percent of patients giving the lenses the highest marks for overall satisfaction," he said.

Ophthonix will expand the iZon Lens introduction nationally during 2006.

About Ophthonix

Ophthonix Inc., a San Diego-based, venture-funded ophthalmic company, is developing exceptional vision assessment and correction technologies to greatly enhance visual acuity. Ophthonix is currently advancing a system that will improve the ability of optometrists and ophthalmologists to care for their patients and benefit the millions around the world requiring vision correction. Ophthonix is located at 10455 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, CA 92121, www.ophthonix.com, [e-mail], 858-869-2086.