Intacs Named One of Year's `Top 10 Medical Advances' by Health Magazine and CNN
First FDA-approved non-laser option for surgically treating nation's estimated 20 million consumers with mild nearsightedness
FREMONT, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 4, 2000-- Intacs(TM), the non-laser alternative for people who wear glasses and contacts to see at distances, have been chosen one of ``The Year's Top 10 Medical Advances' by Health magazine and CNN.
Intacs, developed by KeraVision (Nasdaq: KERA - news) of Fremont, CA, in 1999 became the first FDA-approved non-laser option for surgically correcting mild nearsightedness - a condition that affects an estimated 20 million adult Americans.
The top 10 list represents the ``best of the breakthroughs' because these products and procedures ``will help us live longer, healthier lives,' according to Health magazine and CNN. Other products and treatments on the ``best' list were for AIDS, arthritis, birth control, emergency care, exercise, the flu, infection, nutrition and sleep disorders.
Under the heading, ``Vision: Less Frightening Treatment for the Myopic Millions,' Intacs are described as a ``less daunting option' than LASIK surgery because Intacs do not require cutting or removing tissue from the eye's central optical zone; Intacs can be removed and exchanged for a new prescription if a person's vision changes because of age; and Intacs generally result in 20/20 vision or better.
The top 10 list appears in the January/February issue of Health magazine and on the CNN web site (http://cnn.com/1999/HEALTH/12/29/ten.advances/index.html).
Intacs were approved by the FDA last April after eight years of clinical trials. In the trials, three out of four Intacs consumers saw at least 20/20, more than half saw 20/16 or better, and one in five saw 20/12 or better.
The Intacs technology, developed by KeraVision at an investment of over $80 million, is also being developed for potentially treating mild hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and a wider range of myopia (nearsightedness) than was initially approved by the FDA in 1999.
Except for the historical information, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including market acceptance of KeraVision Intacs, complications relating to the product or the surgical procedure, competitive products and technologies, and other risk factors described under the heading ``Risk Factors Affecting the Company, Its Business and Its Stock Price' contained in Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1999, and under the heading ``Risk Factors' in the registration statement on Form S-3 dated Aug. 12, 1999, as well as in other SEC filings. |
