Laser donated to Optometry

NOTE:  Reporters are invited to a reception thanking Summit
Technology Inc. for its support of the College of Optometry on
Thursday, July 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Alumni Lounge
at the Fawcett Center for Tomorrow, 2400 Olentangy River Rd.
Expected to attend are:  Dr. David Muller, president of Summit;
Dr. Ron Herskowitz, vice president of Summit; Jerry May, vice
president for University Development Ohio State; Dr. Richard
Hill, dean of the College of Optometry; Dr. Joseph Barr, director
of clinics, and faculty and students of the College of Optometry.
     The program will include remarks by Dr. Barr and Dr.
Herskowitz, as well as a ceremonial presentation of the keys to
the laser to Dean Hill.

SUMMIT TECHNOLOGY DONATES $300,000 EXCIMER LASER

     COLUMBUS -- Summit Technology Inc. of Waltham, Mass., a
leader in the development and manufacture of ophthalmic
refractive laser systems, has donated a $300,000 ExciMed UVLA 200
Laser System to The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

     The gift is the first of its kind to any college of
optometry and is part of an educational program to familiarize
optometrists with principles of laser applications, to refine
referral criteria, and to instruct optometrists in pre- and post-
procedure management.

     "This is one of the largest corporate gifts ever received by
the Ohio State College of Optometry and enables us to become
involved with an exciting new technology," said Joseph Barr,
chief of optometry clinics at Ohio State.  "We're already using
the laser to give demonstrations to students."

     The laser is used to change the optical power of the front
of the eye, specifically by reshaping the cornea to achieve
refractive correction resulting in clearer vision.  The laser
provides procedures that are an alternative to spectacles,
contact lenses, and manual refractive surgical procedures for the
treatment of myopia, (nearsightedness), hyperopia
(farsightedness) and astigmatism.  The laser is also used to
reduce existing corneal scars.  The College of Optometry is using
the laser in cooperation with refractive surgeons to educate and
investigate these new clinical procedures.

     Summit, which presently markets excimer lasers in other
countries, recently requested approval from the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to market the excimer laser for
photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and other refractive procedures
in the United States.  Summit also received permission from the
FDA to begin the third phase of its U.S. clinical trials for the
treatment of hyperopia and astigmatism.

     Ohio State is developing a core curriculum for third- and
fourth-year optometry students in the basic science, research and
clinical management of PRK.  Because the FDA has not yet given
the go-ahead for PRK, students will observe laser procedures
performed on non-human cadaver eyes only.  The students will also
be trained to select appropriate PRK candidates, do pre-procedure
evaluations, and then manage patients after the procedure.  As
part of an agreement with Summit, this curriculum will be made
available to other schools and colleges of optometry in the U.S.

     Ohio State and Summit Technology will also become partners
in offering continuing education programs in laser procedures for
interested private practitioners.  This year, professional
meetings in three cities will provide continuing education credit
for optometrists in photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and other
laser procedures.

     The meetings will be in Chicago on August 5-7, in Orlando on
October 1 and 2, and San Diego on December 7 and 8.  For more
information, or to register for the Chicago meeting, contact
Karen Green at 614-292-0818.

     The program will include demonstrations, videos and
presentations by recognized experts in laser technology and
procedures, Barr said.  Optometrists will observe laser
procedures, both "live" (on non-human eyes) and on tape (on human
eyes).  They will then be trained on patient screening and
selection, pre-operative evaluation, and post-operative
managements.

     "We're enthused about working with Summit Technology to
prepare optometrists to become part of the O.D.-M.D. team that
selects and manages patients undergoing laser procedures," Barr
said.

     "We're proud to be at the forefront of this emerging
technology, and to do our part to inform optometrists about laser
procedures," notes Ron Herskowitz, vice president of Summit.
"Summit recognizes the need to work closely with educators to
update the optometric curriculum."

     "There's no doubt that optometrists need to understand laser
procedures, and know how to manage laser patients in order to
prepare for practice in this decade and beyond the year 2000,"
Herskowitz said.  "We're pleased to bring this advanced
technology together with the leading educators at Ohio State."

     For information please contact Joseph Barr, Director of
Clinics, Ohio State College of Optometry, 338 West 10th Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio  43210, (614) 292-0437 or Elizabeth Carroll,
Summit Technology Inc., 21 Hickory Drive, Waltham, MA, 02154,
(617) 890-1234, ext. 126 or by FAX at 617-890-0313.

     Lamar Zigler and Frank Bickle, alumni of Ohio State's
College of Optometry now in private practice, are available to
speak to reporters about the laser, PRK, and the educational
programs. Zigler can be reached at (614) 299-2183, 299-7118, 262-
2020, and 262-0174.  Bickle can be reached at (614) 366-7341.

                                #


[Submitted by: REIDV  (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Tue, 19 Jul 1994 10:16:41 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.