SUNNYVALE, Calif. — August 14, 2012 — Global ophthalmic company OptiMedica Corp. has announced expanded international market adoption of its Catalys Precision Laser System with new installations at the premier Shinagawa LASIK Center in Tokyo and Santa Maria Eye Clinic in Sakaide, Kagawa, Japan. The Catalys Precision Laser System allows surgeons to perform custom cataract procedures with unparalleled precision, exceptional patient comfort and a markedly streamlined workflow. Dr. Minoru Tomita and Dr. Kunihiro Nagahara, of the respective centers, have joined a rapidly growing installed base of Catalys customers that include more than 20 centers in seven countries. To date, Catalys has been used to perform more than 3,000 laser cataract procedures worldwide.

“My experience with Catalys has been excellent,” said Dr. Nagahara, who previously developed the Phaco Chop technique for removing the cataractous lens. “Using the system, I’ve been able to achieve 100 percent free-floating capsulotomies; intraocular lens centration exactly as intended; and a dramatic reduction in phacoemulsification energy during lens fragmentation, even with cataracts as hard as grade 3 and 4. These results are simply not possible with the traditional manual approach.”

Clinical study data has shown that Catalys delivers precision that is an order of magnitude greater than manual technique, with incisions that are accurate within tens of microns of intended. ^1,2 (For visual reference, the width of a human hair is approximately 85 microns.) Moreover, Catalys’ proprietary lens fragmentation capability has been shown to reduce the amount of effective phacoemulsification time needed to remove the cataractous lens by up to 96 percent, providing a gentler and potentially safer procedure for patients and an enhanced experience for surgeons.³

“We chose Catalys at Shinagawa because we are confident that it is the best femtosecond laser cataract system available,” said Dr. Tomita, a globally recognized ophthalmic thought leader and leading refractive surgeon at the prestigious Shinagawa LASIK Center. “The system delivers complete capsulotomies, and, in some cases, lens fragmentation can be done with zero phacoemulsification time. Patient satisfaction has been very high due to the very short amount of time required for the operation and the fact that most have had their procedure performed with zero phacoemulsification time. At our clinic, over 80 percent of the patients are choosing laser cataract surgery and are willing to pay the additional costs for the option.”

OptiMedica President and Chief Executive Officer Mark J. Forchette commented on the new customer relationships in Japan. “We are very honored to add the Shinagawa LASIK Center and Santa Maria Eye Clinic to our esteemed global list of surgeon customers. They are world-class practices known for offering only the best technology, and we are delighted they have selected Catalys as the laser cataract surgery platform of choice for their patients.”

About the Catalys Precision Laser System
Catalys is a next generation laser cataract surgery platform that combines a femtosecond laser, integrated 3D Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging, and OptiMedica’s breakthrough pattern scanning technology in an ergonomic, easy-to-use system. Distinguishing features include a Liquid Optics™ Interface that ensures stable system-patient attachment and optimizes the optical path to the patient’s eye, and a proprietary Integral Guidance™ mapping system that ensures the femtosecond laser pulses are delivered safely and precisely to the intended location. In addition, Catalys features an easy-to-use and elegant graphical user interface designed to simplify the planning process and minimize the time the patient is under the dock.

Catalys is U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) market cleared and CE mark approved for performing capsulotomy and/or lens fragmentation and is also CE mark approved for performing corneal incisions during cataract procedures. Additional regulatory clearances for the corneal incisions application are pending.

About OptiMedica
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., OptiMedica Corp. is a Silicon Valley-based global ophthalmic device company dedicated to developing performance-driven technologies that improve patient outcomes. Exclusively focused in the cataract therapeutic area, the company has developed the Catalys Precision Laser System to transform existing standards of care in cataract surgery.

OptiMedica’s legacy of innovation in ophthalmology also includes the development and commercialization of the PASCAL® Method of retinal photocoagulation, which was acquired by Topcon Corp. in August 2010. The company is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Alloy Ventures, DAG Ventures, BlackRock Private Equity Partners and Bio*One Capital. For more information, please visit www.optimedica.com.

References
¹ Friedman, NJ, et al., “Femtosecond Laser Capsulotomy,” Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 2011 July; 37(7): 1189-1198
² Palanker, D., et al., “Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery with Integrated Optical Coherence Tomography,” Science Translational Medicine, Vol 2 Issue 58: 1-9 (2010)
³ Dick, B. “Experience with Catalys Precision Laser System,” Presented at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting in Busan, Korea. April 2012.

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