May 2008

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Los Angeles Laser Vision Correction Quality of Life Survey Reviewed By FDA

More than 99% of patients reported their quality of life to be as expected or better after laser vision correction surgery, even though 2% report complications that are frequently or always problematic, according to a national patient survey conducted in conjunction with Los Angeles refractive surgeon Dr. Andrew Caster for the nonprofit Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance.

Preliminary results of the patient survey were presented to the US Food and Drug Administration during a special hearing last week. Dr. Caster was one of six doctors throughout the US that surveyed 1,800 vision correction patients. This confidential survey was collected and independently quantified by the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance.

"This survey has told us, not surprisingly, that the quality of life for the vast majority of patients was to be as expected or better after laser vision correction surgery, said Dr. Caster. Even patients who reported complications indicated that they would have the surgery again.

Of those who reported complications that were "seldom problematic", 91% would have the surgery again. A surprising 22% of patients who reported complications that were "frequently" or "always" problematic would have the surgery again, knowing what they know now, according to the preliminary results of the patient survey.

LASIK is one of the safest procedures when performed under the guidance of the right surgeon. The two main complications that occur in patients are symptoms of dryness and night vision issues such as halos and glare. Both of these complications, in our experience, are largely preventable today because of the latest advancements in the technology and matching the right patient to the right procedure. Patients need to spend more time on selecting the best doctor and not be swayed by low prices or the fact that their doctor is on television, said Dr. Caster. LASIK is still a serious surgery and should be approached like you would any other surgical procedure.

Additional results of the patient survey:

• 99% report quality of life as expected, better, or much better
• 98% state day vision as expected, better, or much better
• 98% report no complications
  or complications that are seldom problematic
• 98% would recommend surgery to family and friends.
• 97% would have surgery again, knowing what they know now
• 96% wear corrective lenses as often as expected, less than expected, or much less than expected
• 96% report post-op vision without lenses as expected, better, or much better than expected when compared to pre-op vision with lenses
• 96% report overall quality of vision as expected, better, or much better than expected
• 91% report no complications at any time
• 91% state night vision as expected, better, or much better than expected
• 7% report complications as seldom problematic; however 91% of these same patients would have surgery again
• 2% report complications as frequent or always problematic; however 22% of these same patients would have surgery again

DR. ANDREW CASTER:

Dr. Andrew Caster is an FDA clinical investigator and has performed nearly 30,000 vision correction procedures. Dr. Caster was selected by Los Angeles Magazine as the Best Laser Eye Surgeon in Los Angeles and was voted by other ophthalmologists as a Best Doctor in America. This is an honor given by eye specialists to less than 40 LASIK specialists in the entire United States. Dr. Caster has authored one of the first books on LASIK surgery entitled The Eye Laser Miracle, now in its sixth edition. The Eye Laser Miracle is used by eye doctors across the country to educate patients. For more information on Dr. Caster please visit www.castervision.com

THE COUNCIL FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY QUALITY ASSURANCE:

The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (http://www.USAEyes.org) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental patient advocacy organization that evaluates and certifies doctors who perform LASIK and similar surgeries to reduce the need for corrective lenses.

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