Contact:
Karen Whelan, Public Relations & Practice Marketing Specialist
508-787-1461
kwhelan@optos.com
Optos to Participate in ASCO’s Clinical Director’s Special Interest Group
04.10.2006
MARLBOROUGH, MA, October 4, 2006 – Optos, a leading medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of retinal imaging devices, is pleased to announce it will participate in the Clinical Director’s Special Interest Group for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) hosted by the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) in Fullerton, CA, October 5-8, 2006.
Optos will host its Optos Academy meeting on October 5, 2006 for the Clinical Directors of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. A popular workshop series, the Optos Academy covers techniques and best practices to help practitioners achieve the highest level of success with the optomap® Retinal Exam. The Academy’s featured speakers include: David Nelson, OD, MBA and William Jones, OD, FAAO. Optos representatives will be on-hand to discuss internal marketing, explore nuances of Optos’ v² software and highlight the benefits and features of the new optomap® Plus Medical Retinal Exam.
In addition, Ian Stevens, General Manager, Optos North America, and Tom Daniells, Vice President of Marketing, will present at the Clinical Director’s Workshop on Friday, October 6th at 2:30 pm. Their presentation will focus on optomap® Retinal Exam’s utility as a teaching tool to instruct students of optometry on retinal disease and techniques for retinal examination. In addition, Optos will also unveil a new comprehensive program for 3rd year optometry students, which includes a student Retinal Learning Kit of Optos’ v² software, digital image library and retinal image atlas textbook.
Note to Editors
Optos plc is a leading and rapidly growing medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of devices that image the retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. Optos' platform technology is the Panoramic200 Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope device - known as the P200. In a quarter of a second the P200 device produces a high resolution image of up to 200 degrees or approximately 82 percent of the retina in a single capture. The image - branded the
optomap® Retinal Exam - provides eye care practitioners with clinically useful information that facilitates the early detection of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
The Company has recently gained regulatory clearance (CE and FDA 510(k)) to market a second device - P200MA. The P200MA is aimed at the specialist ophthalmic and medical as opposed to the primary care market. It is designed to produce an angiographic retinal image called optomap® fa that supports medical procedures by providing enhanced diagnostic, monitoring and treatment capabilities. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers. Optos’ technology provides an unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience for both practitioner and patient and can help save sight and save lives.
Optos estimates that its P200 device is targeting a recurring US$2 billion market opportunity. Approximately 8.5 million optomap® Retinal Exams have been conducted in the Company’s existing markets, currently the US, Canada, UK and Germany, to date. Optos had revenues of US$48.4 million in 2005, its last full financial year and as at 31 March 2006 had approximately 220 employees serving more than 2,250 customers. Optos plc is headquartered in Dunfermline, Scotland and was admitted to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 15 February 2006 trading under the symbol OPTS.