Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO)
blink(R) Tears Lubricating Eye Drops Offer Long-Lasting Relief;
Adapt to Individual Dry Eye Needs
SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2008--Advanced
Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO) (NYSE: EYE), a global leader in ophthalmic
surgical devices and eye care products, today announced the U.S.
introduction of blink(R) Tears, a new line of over-the-counter
lubricating eye drops for the estimated 40 percent of Americans who
suffer from occasional or chronic dry eye symptoms.
AMO developed a unique, advanced formula for blink(R) Tears
lubricating eye drops that includes a blend of ingredients naturally
found in the eye. Product benefits include:
-- long-lasting relief with less blurring of vision;
-- up to 60-minute moisture retention time;
-- restores tear film with each blink;
-- improved tear film stability;
-- adapts to an individual's dry eye needs by thickening when the
eye is open, and thinning when the eye blinks;
-- promotion of health and well-being of the eye.
"Dry eye is one of the most common disorders we see as
ophthalmologists and yet it is also one of the most under-diagnosed,"
said Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D., who is in private practice with
Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and is a trustee of Dartmouth
Medical School. "This is unfortunate, because treating dry eye
effectively can improve our patients' quality of vision and their
quality of life."
"I believe that blink(R) Tears will be a significant improvement
to our treatment regimen for managing the symptoms of dry eye,"
continued Dr. Donnenfeld. "The unique formulation of blink(R) Tears
distinguishes it from other currently available artificial tears
because it can provide both a long duration of effect as well as
superior visual clarity. We know that patients are more likely to use
artificial tears as directed if they feel they are getting a
longer-lasting benefit from the drop."
"The introduction of blink(R) Tears lubricating eye drops is our
first entree into the dry eye category and marks an important
expansion of AMO's complete refractive solution of eye care products,"
said AMO Chairman and CEO Jim Mazzo. "It will be used to relieve mild
to moderate dry eye whether used alone or in conjunction with
ophthalmic pharmaceutical therapies."
About Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is a common disorder of the tear film, afflicting
especially those aged 40 years and older. Symptoms of dry eye may
include redness, burning, itching, light sensitivity, excessive
tearing, a gritty "foreign-body" feeling and dryness.
It is estimated that women are twice as likely as men to suffer
from dry eye, especially as they grow older. Dry eye syndrome also can
be associated with other illnesses or conditions. For example, people
with diabetes or auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or
lupus, may be more susceptible to dry eye. Certain environmental
factors can also aggravate dry eye, such as living in an arid climate.
The dry air on planes can also make flying uncomfortable for those
with dry eye.
One of the most common causes of dry eye syndrome is a dysfunction
of the meibomian gland, which produces an oil that coats the eye. It
is this oil, mixed with tears, which creates a healthy tear film that
keeps one's eyes properly lubricated. Without this oil, the eye
compensates by producing more tears. But even with excessive tearing,
a person's eye is still left feeling dry, itchy, uncomfortable and
even painful because the tear film's moisture is out of balance.
A broad set of retail grocery stores and drug stores are now
selling blink(R) Tears lubricating eye drops. Talk to your eye care
professional about sampling blink(R) Tears lubricating eye drops. For
more information, visit www.yourhealthyeyes.com.
AMO plans to launch blink(R) Tears lubricating eye drops in Europe
in the second half of 2008.
About Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO)
AMO is focused on providing the full range of advanced refractive
technologies and support to help eye care professionals deliver
optimal vision and lifestyle experiences to patients of all ages.
Products in the cataract/implant line include intraocular lenses
(IOLs), phacoemulsification systems, viscoelastics, and related
products used in ocular surgery. AMO owns or has the rights to such
product brands as ReZoom(R), Tecnis(R), Clariflex(R), Sensar(R), and
Verisyse(R) IOLs, Sovereign(R), Sovereign(R) Compact and WhiteStar
Signature(TM) phacoemulsification systems with WhiteStar(R)
technology, Healon(R) viscoelastics, and the Baerveldt(R) glaucoma
shunt. Products in the laser vision correction line include wavefront
diagnostic devices, femtosecond lasers and associated patient
interface devices, and excimer laser vision correction systems and
treatment cards. AMO brands in the laser vision correction business
include Star S4 IR(R), WaveScan Wavefront(R), Advanced CustomVue(TM),
IntraLase(R) and IntraLasik(R). Products in the eye care line include
dry eye drops and contact lens disinfecting solutions, enzymatic
cleaners and lens rewetting drops. Among the eye care product brands
the company possesses are COMPLETE(R), COMPLETE(R) Blink-N-Clean(R),
Consept(R)F, Consept(R) 1 Step, Oxysept(R), UltraCare(R),
Ultrazyme(R), Total Care(TM) and blink(R) branded products. AMO is
based in Santa Ana, California, and employs approximately 4,000
worldwide. The company has operations in 24 countries and markets
products in approximately 60 countries. For more information, visit
the company's Website at www.amo-inc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about AMO,
including statements by Dr. Donnenfeld and Mr. Mazzo and statements
relating to expected product performance, trends and outcomes, as well
as the expected European launch. All forward-looking statements in
this press release represent AMO's judgment only as of the date of
this press release. Actual results may differ from current
expectations based on a number of factors such as the potential for
delays in the European launch due to unexpected regulatory or
manufacturing issues, or unexpected patient outcomes or experiences.
Therefore, the reader is cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. AMO disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements. Additional information
concerning these and other risk factors may be found in previous press
releases issued by AMO and AMO's public periodic filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the
heading "Risk factors" in AMO's 2007 Form 10-K. Copies of press
releases and additional information about AMO are available at
www.amo-inc.com.
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714-247-8290
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