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Biotech / Medical : Laser Vision Centers, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVCI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Xavier who wrote (124)	3/30/1998 5:06:00 PM
From: Jim Mac	Respond to of 413

More good news: Visx (LVCI's main/only laser of choice) just got FDA approval for "no-touch" PRK on their new STAR S2, a 7-beam scanning laser that's supposedly so fast, it doesn't need an eyetracker, unlike other, slower scanning lasers going thru approval now. This should lead to much better marketing, and much better response from consumers, since it's common sense that MOST PEOPLE don't want a microkeratome blade slicing through their 0.5mm-thick corneas if it's unnecessary. "No-touch" results in faster epithelial healing, greater physical/psychological/emotional comfort level for patient. Also, the S2 gives a much smoother ablation, and covers a wider area of cornea, making it great for hyperopia. Good news for LVCI, since their future purchases will likely be S2's.

To: Xavier who wrote (124)	4/8/1998 5:45:00 PM
From: Jim Mac	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 413

LCAV jumped over 40% today on procedure growth news. Now, since LVCI has 1/4 the shares outstanding, more efficient laser utilization, current profitability (April should be profitable, and July Q looks like $0.10 non-taxed, while calendar 1999 looks like $1.00 fully-taxed, especially thanks to hyperopia), faces less competition, has more flexibility with its mobiles, and has less fixed overhead, doesn't it seem reasonable that LVCI should be at $14 or $15 now? Or will the LT advantage go to the operator with the most urban fixed sites?

To: Xavier who wrote (124)	4/14/1998 5:09:00 PM
From: Jim Mac	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 413

Wow, LVCI just reported for March they did 3000 procedures on their 23 U.S. lasers. That's 130 per month per laser, or 1565 annualized per laser. That's a lot higher rate than LCAV and LZRCF, which each have more U.S. lasers, and are doing about half that rate. That means LVCI is very likely to earn $1.00 fully-taxed in calendar 1999, more on a cash basis (adding back in dep/amort). April should be profitable, and this Q, they're generating $1M cash. Up to 115 sites now, from 100 in Dec/Jan. Their target is 125 sites on line by end April. I think we'll be at $12-$13 in a little while.