Contact:
Karen Whelan, Public Relations & Practice Marketing Specialist
508-787-1461
kwhelan@optos.com
Optos to Participate in International Vision Expo West
9/11/2006
MARLBOROUGH, MA, September 11, 2006 – Optos will host key educational activities at the International Vision Expo West taking place in Las Vegas, NV, September 13-16, 2006.
Optos will hold its Optos Academy XT meeting on September 12th from 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm. For new and current Optos partners, the program titled “Trends & Technology in Retinal Disease Detection and Management” will focus on various topics related to using new technologies including the
optomap® Retinal Exam. The Academy’s featured speakers include: David Nelson, OD, MBA, Jerome Sherman, OD, FAAO, William Jones, OD, FAAO, and Kim Castleberry, OD.
In addition, Optos will periodically hold “Meet the Experts” forums in its booth, # ET7051, which will highlight various speakers and cover topics including: “Targeted Ophthalmoscopy – Using the optomap® Retinal Exam with Direct Observation, the Best of both Worlds;” “10,000 optomap® Retinal Exams and Counting – the Best of the Bunch;” and “Building Your Medical Optometric Practice with the optomap® plus Medical Retinal Exam for Reimbursable Procedures.”
Images from the optomap® Retinal Exam will also be featured in two courses during the general sessions by Jeffry Gerson, OD, FAOO: “Retinal Findings with Systemic Disease,” Friday, September 15, 1:30 pm and “Retina Grand Rounds: Taking Advantage of Technology,” Saturday, September 16, 12:30 pm.
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.