Newsroom
FOR RELEASE MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Bausch & Lomb announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Company's 100 Hertz excimer laser, the 217z100, for use in the United States as part of its Zyoptix ™ Personalized Laser Vision Correction System for refractive surgery. The unique combination of beam diameters and laser speed of the 217z100 makes it among the fastest laser vision correction treatment times available in the United States.
The 217z100 laser operates at twice the speed of the Bausch & Lomb system currently on the U.S. market in both standard and custom treatment modes. U.S. surgeons will be the first in the world to operate Bausch & Lomb's Planoscan standard treatment at 100 Hz when the 217z100 laser becomes commercially available this summer.
"The 217z100 laser reduces treatment time with the Bausch & Lomb Zyoptix system by half. This reduction in treatment time comes on the heels of dramatic efficiency gains already achieved through a number of recent upgrades to the Zyoptix system," said Bob Anello, Bausch & Lomb director of refractive marketing.
The new 217z100 laser is expected to be commercially available in the United States by July 2006, along with an upgrade path to allow current users of the Zyoptix laser to access the faster technology.
Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2004 revenues were $2.2 billion; it employs approximately 12,400 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company can be found on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com . Copyright Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
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