Technolas Perfect Vision Announces Issuance of Two Foundation Patents for the Intrastromal Refractive Treatment of Presbyopia
MUNICH, GERMANY--(Marketwire - June 03, 2010) - Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH, a refractive laser company at the forefront of providing advanced ophthalmic laser treatments for presbyopia, today announced the issuance of United States Patents 7,717,907 and 7,717,908. These patents describe the technique for treating presbyopia by using a minimally-invasive intrastromal laser procedure to reshape the cornea of the eye. Conventionally treated with the use of reading glasses, presbyopia is an eye condition associated with the aging process. It starts to affect people in their 40s and 50s, when the natural lens and the muscles in the eye, which allow focusing on items close up, gradually lose the ability to flex, or accommodate.
Developed in conjunction with renowned refractive surgeon Dr. Luis Antonio Ruiz, from Colombia, this intellectual property represents a key step in building upon Technolas Perfect Vision's strategy to bring presbyopia solutions to the global market. Dr. Kristian Hohla, CEO of Technolas Perfect Vision, said, "There's a real, growing need to cater to patient demand for effective presbyopic solutions which provide improved quality of life and convenience. In the US alone, there are currently over 100 million presbyopes, representing a huge market opportunity."
Known as the INTRACOR™ procedure, this femtosecond laser technique is already approved in Europe and selected regions in Asia for the treatment of presbyopic hyperopes. Patients receiving the treatment have seen a dramatic increase in spectacle-independence for reading and other daily activities.
About Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH
Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH (TPV) is a joint venture between Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, and 20/10 Perfect Vision AG, the German femtosecond laser developer. The new company combines the laser vision correction assets of both businesses, utilizing its global service and support infrastructure to introduce new, laser-based vision correction procedures, especially focusing on treatments for presbyopia. TPV now markets product brands such as the TECHNOLAS™ Femtosecond Workstation with the CUSTOMFLAP™, CUSTOMSHAPE™ and INTRACOR™ procedures, the TECHNOLAS 217 excimer laser system, which includes the ZYWAVE™ and ORBSCAN™ diagnostic devices, and the ZYOPTIX brand of laser vision correction treatments, as well as the HANSATOME™ and ZYOPTIX™ XP microkeratomes.
For more information visit the company's website at www.technolaspv.com or www.intracor.net.
®/™ denote trademarks of Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH. INTRACOR is currently not available in the US.