National LASIK Expert Offers Consumer
Tips for Selecting Qualified Surgeons

Proper Screening and Surgical Equipment Essential

GREENWICH, Conn. (July 16, 2002) — With more than 4.5 million Americans having chosen laser vision correction over eyeglasses and contact lenses, Vadim Filatov, M.D., founder of the Filatov Eye Institute, advises consumers to make informed choices when selecting a surgeon.

“Six years after LASIK’s FDA approval, true experts in the procedure have had time to emerge by now,” says Dr. Filatov. “Consumers can, and should, expect to get top expertise and experience in the treatment of their eyes.”

Trained at Yale, Harvard, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Filatov, a Board-Certified cornea and LASIK specialist, offers the following tips to consumers considering laser vision correction:

• Credentials: Board-certification and a one-year fellowship training in cornea are essential, and published research on LASIK is a plus.
  
• Experience: The surgeons to look for have five years of experience and have performed at least 1,000 procedures. Ask to see records of the surgeon’s earliest patients.
  
• Dedication: A physician who is truly dedicated to LASIK will likely have set up his or her own laser center. This also allows more control over success parameters such as sterility, technicians, etc.
  
• Professional status: LASIK surgeons who operate within large corporations have less influence in decisions involving both business and medicine.
  
• Screening: Make sure the surgeon takes measurements of your pupil size and cornea thickness.
  
• Sterility: Ask if laser room personnel wear full surgical scrubs and if blades are re-used.
  
• Technology: Ask if the laser used has a tracker to follow the eye movement during the procedure.
  
• Counseling: Make sure the surgeon explains in detail the choices offered to people who need reading glasses after age 40.
  

According to Dave Harmon, president of Market Scope, a St. Louis-based firm that studies the laser vision correction industry, 1.5 million people will elect to have laser vision correction in 2002, an increase of more than 15 percent from last year. The LASIK industry continues to grow, with a projected 1.8 million people to have the surgery in 2003.

The following sources offer more information on choosing a LASIK surgeon:

• Filatov Eye Institute: http://www.diamondvision.org/faq.html
  
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/
  
• The Eye Surgery Education Council of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery: http://www.eyesurgeryeducation.com
  

About Dr. Filatov
With a distinguished record of publications in the field of laser vision correction, Dr. Filatov was one of the first physicians in the United States in 1989 to evaluate the excimer laser, now widely used in LASIK and other procedures. He has won national recognition as one of the most experienced refractive surgeons in the country.

In addition to providing LASIK surgery, Dr. Filatov treats patients who experience complications from procedures performed by other physicians. He also offers customized, wavefront-guided LASIK treatment for patients with uncommon prescriptions or corneal shape, while providing one-on-one personalized, premium care.

About Filatov Eye Institute
The Filatov Eye Institute is an independent, ophthalmology and LASIK practice setting standards in high-quality, customized patient care. It is dedicated to advancing the field of laser vision correction and serving the community with the latest in technology. Also a center for research and education, the Filatov Eye Institute sponsors educational seminars and provides a full-time LASIK fellowship program to improve the standardization of training across the country. Headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with offices in Manhattan, Northern New Jersey, Westport and Glastonbury, CT, the Filatov Eye Institute treats patients from all over the country and the world, including respected leaders, professional athletes and celebrities.