Jim, I respectfully disagree that VISX excimer which ablates the cornea is competition for the non-invasive, non-contact collagan shrinking SNRS procedure for hyperopia. Below is a poster "Cheesebreath" who tried to make the same point as you, being answered by CakeBiz in a point-by-point response....Regards, Skane
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Subject: POINT BY POINT REPLY
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 1998 08:15 EST
From: CakeBiz
Message-id: <19980316131501.IAA27351@ladder03.news.aol.com>
Here is a point by point reply to the INACCURACIES WHICH PLAGUE CHEESEBOY 1'S POST:
Cheesebreath >>When Ophthalmology times says that Sunrise has problems I would tend to believe it until proven otherwise by an equal or more dependable and trustworthy souce.>>
Cake--->While Ophthalmology Times certainly is an important publication in the industry, Ocular Surgery News seems to be the front-runner for ophthalmic surgeons on the cutting edge of technology. Their March 1 cover story features LTK. The Ophthalmology Times article is simply the opinion of ONE individual and not the opinion of Ophthalmology Times.
Cheesebreath->> LTK had prolific regression when I last followed Sunrise----and I mean prolific.>>
Cake-->The only time LTK had prolific regression was when it was CONTCT MODE and that is AGES OLD information. That is when SUMMIT was using CONTACT MODE LTK. When you use more energy in CONTACT MODE, that results in scarring, necrosis of the corneal tissue and regression.
Cheesebreath-->>Summit was in Hyperopia clinical trials for LTK themselves with a holmium laser just like Sunrise-----AND THEY ABANDONED THE TRIALS. DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYONE?>>
Cake-->Summit abandoned the studies because their LTK was CONTACT MODE, AND CONTACT MODE DOES NOT WORK, as stated above.
Cheesebreath-->>Sure it is possible that Sunrise figured out a way to get around the tremendous regression that LTK suffers from......I'd like to know how they did it.>>
Cake--->Simple. SUNRISE LTK IS NON CONTACT MODE - BIG DIFFERENCE. It is also highly successful due to the rigid drying protocol that is being used. Sunrise is also very particular about their patient population. You must be 40+ years and .75 to 2.5 hyperopic. The procedure is not done indiscriminately. For your information, the regression curve for the approved excimer laser is IDENTICAL to the regression curve for the LTK units. All result in
an initial over correction followed by a period of regression which is predictable but minimal after six months and negligible after one year.
Cheesebreath--->>Additionally, if the LTK procedure is so gee golly great, why does Sunrise restrict its use to 3.00 diopters of hyperopia (I tend to believe Sunrise does the bulk of their procedure on 1.00 and 2.00 diopters).>>
Cake--->Actually the studies are up to 2.5 dIopters, however, in that small range, there are 36 million hyperopes. Beyond 2.5, there are not that many additional patients. You should also know, however, that current studies outside the U.S. indicate that Sunrise can extend the range up to 4 diopters of correction. These results were recently presented at major ophthalmic meetings and shall be presented agbain at ASCRS in San Diego next month. Maybe
that's why sunrise LTK is "so gee golly great". Or maybe its the fact that the cost of the procedure is less than half of the VISX excimer procedure, or maybe it's the fact that the Sunrise LTK lasers only cost $200,000 compared to $500,000 for the VISX laser. Maybe this is why the sun is shining on Sunrise! O maybe
it's because the industry recognizes that there are TWICE AS MANY HYPEROPES AS MYOPES. The companies treating myopes with excimer lasers have tremendous competition - witness the recent FDA approval of the Autonomous laser. Sunrise's NON CONTACT MODE LTK, once approved should have NO COMPETITION in terms of cost, simplicity, safety and patient acceptance of the procedure. And, again, the Sunrise LTK patient population is
DOUBLE that of myopes!
Cheesebreath--->>And NO, the eye does not need to be cut in order to correct Hyperopia with the Visx STAR laser system. What is being done is a "donut shaped" ablation is made on the Cornea with the excimer. There is no cutting, just ablation with the excimer laser.>>
Cake--->This sounds like the PRK procedure which has almost been abandoned because of extreme discomfort by the patient, and takes three days for healing! Frontal ablation is painful! Recovery for Sunrise LTK is a matter of MINUTES! The other excimer treatment for hyperopia, hyperopic LASIK, involves substantial risk. If you cut wrong, you can take the cap completely off. There are problems of lost cap, crinkled caps and an improper bed and irregular
astigmatism. And the redo rate can be as high as 10%. Not to mention that the subsequent glare is a real bummer for patients. Hyperopic LASIK in high ranges can result in ectasia (center bulging forward) of the central cornea.
Cheesebreath--->>I would have to see 2 year follow up on TODAYS LTK and TODAYS LTK PATIENTS before I would believe ANYBODY regarding LTK and the
regression issue.>>
Cake--->Sunrise LTK has studies indicating stability from one to four years. In fact these studies are being made available to interested ophthalmic surgeons prior to FDA approval.
Cheesebreath--->>BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL FOLKS THIS STOCK IS NOT UNDERVALUED EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN SMOKING CRACK AND DROPPING ACID AT THE SAME TIME. LOL >>
Cake--->I believe prior to approval Summit was trading at approximately 650 times earnings. Or perhaps you are just concerned about the fact that nearly 10% of the stock in VISX is SHORT interest. As an investor, that would concern me. With Autonomous about to gain final approval, 4 additional excimer laser companies seeking approval for more advanced excimer lasers, the kera vision intrastromat ring and Starr Surgical's ICL, the competition VISX will
face in the myopic market is going to heat up substantially.
Next time you decide to trash a company, do your homework first. Also, the fact that you are LONG THE COMPETITION sort of undermines your argument, wouldn't you say?
Accordind to your posts on the VISX boards, you hold a "sizeable" position in VISX.
Frankly, I'm glad Sunrise is garnering so much attention these days. The simplicity, safety and efficacy of the Sunrise LTK is what will bring this to market AT WARP SPEED, WITNESS THE FDA'S APPROVAL FOR SAME DAY TREATMENT OF THE COMPANION EYE! When another company can step up to the plate with that kind of track record, then we'll have something to talk about.
Regards,
Cake
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