CustomLASIK Produces Superior Vision Quality Says Paul M. Ernest M.D. Founder of TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan

Jackson, MI May 28, 2004 -– CustomLASIK produces superior vision quality compared to Conventional LASIK eye surgery, according to research presented at the recent American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting.

The research was conducted by US Navy Captain Steve Schallhorn, MD, who is the Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Navy Medical Center in San Diego. Schallhorn said that his CustomLASIK patients experience improved quality of vision, fewer problems with halos and glare, better night vision, and higher patient satisfaction when compared to Conventional LASIK patients.

"These findings are similar to what TLC Laser Eye Centers® patients are experiencing," said Paul H. Ernest, M.D., founder of the TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan. TLC Laser Eye Centers is the world's largest corporate provider of CustomLASIK and performs thousands of CustomLASIK procedures each month.

"As the FDA clinical trials, subsequent studies, and real world results have shown, CustomLASIK can provide clearer and sharper vision than was previously possible with glasses, contacts or even Conventional LASIK," Dr. Ernest said.

Schallhorn's study found that CustomLASIK is giving many patients the ability to see as well or better than they could see with glasses before surgery. Schallhorn, who provides LASIK to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, said that LASIK has enhanced combat readiness and improves performance for active duty personnel.

CustomLASIK is possible because of a tool called the wavefront analyzer. The wavefront analyzer is able to measure the way light travels through your eye. The wavefront analyzer takes this data and gives doctors a map of your individual vision imperfections. This information is then programmed into the laser, resulting in a completely customized procedure.

Dr. Ernest noted, "The measurements used in CustomLASIK are 25 times more precise than the measurements used in Conventional LASIK. Because the procedure is customized to a patient's individual eyes, CustomLASIK is able to provide a greater chance of achieving 20/20 vision."

Schallhorn's findings support that notion. Schallhorn compared the results the Navy Medical Center obtained in patients having Conventional LASIK vs. CustomLASIK and found:

Conventional LASIK patients:

88% of 908 patients achieved 20/20 or better as tested six months after the procedure.

CustomLASIK patients:

97% of 34 patients achieved 20/20 or better. In addition, 85% of CustomLASIK patients had 20/16 vision vs. 69% of Conventional LASIK patients six months following their procedures.

Schallhorn also found that 30% of Conventional LASIK patients reported an increase in night driving halo symptoms compared to no patients in the CustomLASIK group. (After three months the majority of night halo problems decreased for the Conventional LASIK group.)

While ophthalmologists who treat patients with conventional LASIK have made great progress in the just the past five years, True Custom LASIK expands the horizons not only visually for patients but also for physicians who were often limited in their ability to help people with higher-order aberrations.

Attempts to correct these conditions included glasses, contacts or conventional LASIK – all providing some degree of improvement but not to the degree custom LASIK now achieves.

"These higher-order aberrations also can have a significant impact on the quality of a person's vision," added Dr. Ernest, "and are often associated with visual glare and halos that might cause night vision problems."

By treating higher-order aberrations as well, True Custom LASIK not only potentially improves visual acuity better than 20/20, but also the overall quality of vision is improved through crisper vision and enhanced contrast sensitivity."

The laser technology used in the field of vision correction today is producing astounding results. That however, doesn't mean every single person with a vision problem is a candidate. Persons with eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts may be poor candidates.

Dr. Ernest noted, "It's great to see this data comparing Conventional and CustomLASIK. Both procedures are excellent, however CustomLASIK's precision and personalization may be the best choice for many patients. At TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan, we sit down with you and help you decide which procedure is right for your unique eyes. Our commitment to eye care co-management means that we are able to work closely with each patient's personal eye doctor to achieve maximum results."

About TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan

TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan is one of nearly 60 TLC Laser Eye Centers locations across North America. Each year, TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan provides laser vision correction to thousands of Michigan residents.

TLC Vision Corporation, TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan' parent company, is North America's premier eye care services company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company focuses on three large eye care markets - refractive surgery (surface of the eye), cataract surgery (anterior of the eye) and dry AMD therapy (posterior of the eye). TLCVision® enjoys a number of valuable assets including an affiliated network of thousands of eye doctors, access to some of the newest clinical technologies, proven patient education and marketing programs, state-of-the art information systems, a strong operations management culture and a number of well established corporate brands. The Company's common shares trade on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ‘TLCV' and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘TLC'. Visit TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers of Michigan web site at www.tlcmi.com or call: (800) 551-7347.





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