VISX Excimer Laser System Approved in Japan

VISX, Inc. announced that the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) in Japan has approved the VISX Excimer Laser System for Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK), a procedure to treat corneal scars and dystrophies of the eye.

VISX is the first and only U.S. company to receive such an approval.

Clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the VISX System for laser vision correction since early 1993. VISX, in conjunction with Alcon Laboratories, Japan, was able to secure the support of three prestigious university hospitals in conducting the trials.

Pursuant to a prior agreement, Alcon Japan, Ltd. will transfer the MHW approval to VISX, which will undertake the distribution and service of the approved excimer laser systems. VISX will continue to work with the MHW, through its Japanese subsidiary, VISX Japan K.K., to bring to the Japanese marketplace the same range of procedures that is available in other countries throughout the world.