Visian(R) Implantable Collamer(R) Lens(TM) Gives Bobsledder Ability to Continue in Sport, Win Olympic Gold
March 01 2010 - 6:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
MONROVIA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical
Company a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally
invasive ophthalmic products, including the Visian Implantable
Collamer Lens (ICL), today congratulated Steve Holcomb for leading
the United States Bobsled team on Saturday evening to its first
gold medal win in 62 years. In 2008, Holcomb, who was extremely
nearsighted and suffered from the degenerative eye condition
keratoconus, had a STAAR Visian ICL implanted in each eye to
correct the nearsightedness. Immediately, his vision improved from
a reported 20/500 to 20/20, and he was able to resume his quest for
Olympic gold. "It got to a point in 2008 where I couldn't see
anymore," said Holcomb in an interview with NBC made available on
the network's Olympics site and through the link:
http://bit.ly/VisianGold. "They couldn't make contacts strong
enough." "I went to my coach and told him I had to quit," Holcomb
said in the same NBC interview. "I had to retire because it was
becoming a safety issue, I can't see anymore." "They put a lens
inside my eyes," Holcomb explained in the NBC interview. "It's
basically a contact lens inside my eye, right behind my iris. It
was about ten minutes, and as soon I was up I could see 20/20. It's
been pretty incredible ever since and literally a year later I'm a
world champion." The Visian ICL is the new more flexible
alternative to LASIK. It typically improves visual acuity to 20/20,
with excellent visual quality, and while it is designed to be a
permanent solution for vision correction, unlike LASIK, the Visian
ICL can be removed if a patient's vision changes or if it needs to
be removed or replaced - patient satisfaction is extremely high.
The lens is made of Collamer, a lens material that is highly
compatible with the body's immune system, and is available
exclusively through STAAR Surgical. The Visian ICL has been
implanted in more than 150,000 eyes worldwide and has established a
proven track record of safety offering a wider treatment range for
myopia than LASIK and PRK procedures. The Visian ICL is implanted
in front of the natural lens and then gently tucked behind the iris
(colored part of the eye) the entire procedures takes approximately
20 minutes and once implanted, no additional maintenance is needed.
"The worldwide employees of STAAR have followed Steve's career
since we learned of his choice to undergo the quick procedure to
implant the Visian ICL about two years ago," said Barry G.
Caldwell, President & CEO. "We were thrilled when Steve piloted
the U.S. team to a World Championship title a year ago, but nothing
matches the excitement of Saturday night when Steve ended a 62-year
drought for the U.S. in four-man bobsledding. Our Visian ICL
enabled Steve to regain his vision and we congratulate him and the
entire U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation on this tremendous
display of courage, leadership and victory." To learn more about
the Visian ICL ,and to locate your local Leading ICL Specialist
surgeon, go to http://www.visianinfo.com/. Or follow us at
http://www.facebook.com/visianicl or
http://www.twitter.com/visianicl. About STAAR Surgical STAAR is a
leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of minimally
invasive ophthalmic products employing proprietary technologies.
STAAR's products are used by ophthalmic surgeons and include the
Visian ICL, a tiny, flexible lens implanted to correct refractive
errors, as well as innovative products designed to improve patient
outcomes for cataracts and glaucoma. Manufactured in Switzerland by
STAAR, the ICL is approved by the FDA for use in treating myopia,
has received CE Marking and is sold in more than 40 countries. More
information is available at http://www.staar.com/. CONTACT:
Investors Media EVC Group EVC Group Barbara Domingo, 415-896-5862
Chris Gale, 646-201-5431 Douglas Sherk, 415-896-6820 DATASOURCE:
STAAR Surgical Company CONTACT: Investors, Barbara Domingo,
+1-415-896-5862, or Douglas Sherk,+1-415-896-6820, or Media, Chris
Gale, +1-646-201-5431, all of EVC Group, forSTAAR Surgical Company
Web Site: http://www.staar.com/http://www.visianinfo.com/
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