GLG News by Refractive Surgeons (US)

Tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) may develop during the course of anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) related pigment epithelial detachment (PED), according to a study published in the June issue of Retina.  A total of 33 cases of RPE tear after treatment with...

Bad news merger of AMO and B&L..

AMO's VISX has about 50% of the excimer laser business.  B&L has the number 2 spot with about 25% of the market share.  A take over by AMO could pose a monopoly in the laser market, that can hinder innovation. 

Custom lasers were unable to achieve monovision in the past since hey capture and treat the whole refractive error of the eye.  The ability to perform monovision in a custom platform will make easier for practices to offer more custom procedures to the 40+ patients, thus translating into higher...

ALCON has real chance in expanding its laser refractive market share.  Getting rid of a less than optimal platform and replacing it with the Allegretto laser has excellent potential for ALCON.

Alcon has had recent problems with its LadarVision device.  Surgeons not previously exposed to the Alegretto machine have been pleasantly surprised.  The Alegretto is easy to use, fast and accurate.  While Alcon will initially compete with itself, marketing two devices, it will keep surgeons...

I have been working on a cell transfer device designed to optimize wound healing after PRK laser vision correction. Essentially, we plan to coat a silicone hydrogel contact lens with a thin dissolvable layer of collagen on the concave surface. Cultured epithelial cells would be seeded onto the collagen...

Alcon has suffered with its LADARVision system recalls and lawsuits, and has looked particularly troubled following AMO's acquisition of VISX.  Although AMO/VISX remains the market leader for refractive correction, the Allegretto represents new technology with potential advantages in terms of accuracy...

The FDA has just approved a "bifocal LASIK" technique from Advanced Medical Optics using their CustomVue Excimer laser platform.   It has been approved as " a new device". In actuality, it is neither a new device nor does it provide bifocal vision.

Currently the ophthalmic device market is organized into an oligopoly including Alcon, AMO and Bausch.  AMO has shown fairly dramatic growth with its acquisition of VISX, Intralase and Wavefront Sciences.  However, AMO's potential acquisition of Bausch is on a grander scale.  There are...