Visiogen, Inc. Recognized at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium with Two Best of Session Papers.

Findings Further Support the Validity of the Synchrony[R] Dual Optic Accommodating Intraocular Lens 

IRVINE, Calif. -- Visiogen, Inc. of Irvine, California, announced that two papers focusing on the company's Synchrony[R] dual optic accommodating intraocular lens were awarded the Best of Session designation at the 2007 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Symposium held recently in San Diego, CA.

The two recognized papers were "Effect of Tilt and Decentration on the Image Quality and Depth of Focus Produced by Accommodating IOLs," presented by Doug Koch, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine, and "Visual Function at Different Focal Distances with the Synchrony Dual Optic Accommodating IOL," presented by Ivan L. Ossma-Gomez, M.D., Universidad Industrial de Satender, and Andrea Galvis, M.D.

Dr. Koch's paper explicated his theoretical analysis, which found that the effects of tilt and decentration of a dual optic IOL, like Synchrony, are fundamentally different than a conventional single optic IOL. Dual lens IOLs experience an expanded depth of focus without a significant reduction in contrast as is shown with single optic IOLs.

Drs. Ossma-Gomez and Galvis compared multifocal and dual optic accommodating IOLs. Their paper established that Synchrony showed better reading ability than ReSTOR (Alcon) and ReZoom (Advanced Medical Optics) intraocular lenses, demonstrated by reading speed at low light. At newsprint size, the Synchrony patients read at a median speed of 153 words per minute in low light settings, compared with 86 words per minute for ReZoom patients and 75 words per minute for those with ReSTOR lenses. Additionally, the study showed that Synchrony patients demonstrated excellent visual acuity in a physiological range at all distance tested -- far, intermediate and near distances. Both ReSTOR and ReZoom patients showed a marked reduction in visual acuities at all intermediate distances (from 50 to 100 cm). This study supports the ability of the Synchrony IOL to provide excellent visual acuity and reading speed at all distances and under all lighting conditions without inducing glare or halos.

The proprietary Synchrony system, intended for use in cataract and refractive patients, incorporates a dual optic lens with an easy-to-use pre-loaded injector. The entire system is self-contained and ready for use without the need for lens handling. The dual optic lens can be inserted through a 3.6 - 3.8 mm clear-corneal incision. The single-piece silicone lens unfolds in the eye upon insertion and features two optics connected by a spring system. The springs connect a 5.5-mm high power anterior optic and a 6-mm negative power posterior optic; the spring action moves the front optic and changes the eye's focus from near to far. This unique combination of positive- and negative-powered optics is customized for each patient.

To date, the Synchrony lens has been implanted in over 600 patients worldwide. The company received the European CE Mark for the Synchrony[R] Dual Optic Accommodating IOL in June of 2006, which allows them to expand into post-marketing research studies within Europe to further build the scientific foundation for Synchrony.

In January of 2007, the company received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for full expansion of its Phase III U.S. clinical trial for Synchrony. It is being studied in a multi-center trial to evaluate safety and effectiveness and the potential for near and intermediate vision without the use of spectacles in patients post cataract surgery.

About Visiogen

Visiogen, Inc. is focused on developing innovative products for cataract and refractive patients. Founded in Irvine, California, in 2001, Visiogen's first commercial application, Synchrony[R], a dual optic accommodating intraocular lens and pre-loaded injector, is currently in clinical studies in the U.S. and has received the CE Mark in Europe.