OptiMedica sells retina, glaucoma assets to Topcon

Santa Clara, CA-OptiMedica Corp. is selling its retina and glaucoma assets to Topcon Corp. to focus exclusively on its cataract-related business, including the global market launch of a laser cataract surgery system and cataract-focused research and development.

The company expects to launch its laser cataract surgery system in the United States and in international markets in 2011.

“Topcon has been an outstanding distribution partner for the pattern scan laser photocoagulator [PASCAL] in several major markets, so we are confident that they are ideally suited to advancing [the photocoagulator] in the global marketplace,” said Mark J. Forchette, OptiMedica president and chief executive officer.

Hiroshi Fukuzawa, general manager, eye care business unit, Topcon, said the acquisition is the largest in the company’s medical division.

“Given the aging population and continued growth in diabetic and age-related eye disease, the therapeutic laser market continues to be a major opportunity in ophthalmology,” Fukuzawa said.