LCA Vision has new excimer laser strategy to reduce operating expenses

Cincinnati-After following a rigorous clinical comparison of excimer laser platform technologies, LCA Vision is finalizing plans to reduce the number of platforms at each of its LASIKPlus vision centers from three to two.

The company said it expects this action will reduce annual operating expenses in excess of $3 million when the program is implemented fully no later than the end of the third quarter of 2009. Also new agreements with equipment manufacturers will allow LCA Vision to retire $2.1 million of capital lease obligations immediately.

The excimer treatment platforms will be standardized through 5-year relationships with Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (formerly Advanced Medical Optics Inc.) for two proprietary laser systems (VISX Star SR IR, Abbott Medical Optics; Allegretto Wave Eye-Q 400Hz, Alcon Laboratories).

"We are capitalizing on an opportunity afforded by advancements in excimer laser platforms, which allow us to reduce the number of lasers per center and lower costs while ensuring our continued ability to achieve industry-leading clinical outcomes," said Steven C. Straus, chief executive officer of LCA-Vision.

"We are confident that reducing the number of excimer lasers in each LasikPlus vision center from three to two will have virtually no impact on the patient experience or clinical outcome,” said Lewis Groden, MD, medical advisory board, LCA Vision, Tampa, FL.