PEORIA, IL - October 8, 2003 - Bond Eye Associates and the Illinois Valley Eye Laser Institute (IVELI) is pleased to announce the FDA approval of the revolutionary WaveLight Allegretto Wave Excimer Laser System for the reduction or elimination of certain degrees of near- and farsightedness.

"We are very excited to have the FDA approval of the Allegretto Wave, " says Dr. William Bond, founder and director of Bond Eye Associates and IVELI. "We've been one of eleven sites in the entire country involved in the FDA study for two years, and we've anxiously awaited permission to inform the public about the Allegretto Wave and its advantages over other lasers in correcting blurred vision. The range of visual impairments we can now correct is much wider than before. We're going to be able to help a greater number of people obtain clearer vision via LASIK."

The Allegretto Wave adds to the growing number of wavefront technologies being studied and used in the laser vision correction field. The term "custom LASIK" has been used frequently the past year with the introduction of different wavefront-guided topography (measurement) tools as well as the VISX and Alcon wavefront lasers, which were approved earlier this year. Wavefront technology uses a sort of "fingerprint" of an individual's eye to create a personalized "custom" LASIK treatment that produces clearer vision.

The Allegretto Wave has demonstrated superior results in comparison with the study outcomes of other wavefront lasers. Better than two-thirds of the study participants attained better than 20/20 vision after being corrected by the Allegretto Wave. "So far, the patients we've treated in the trials have enjoyed tremendous results," says Bond. "Vision as good as 20/08 has been produced with this laser. It is truly an amazing advancement in the refractive field."

Additionally, the Allegretto Wave has produced better quality of vision in patients. Symptoms like halos and glare, which plague many previous refractive patients, were experienced markedly less by Allegretto patients than by those of other lasers. And astonishingly, some study participants have reported that such symptoms afflicting them before the procedure were dramatically reduced post-operatively.

These superior outcomes can be partially attributed to two important details; the Allegretto Wave is the only laser developed specifically for custom LASIK procedures, and this device underwent a more rigorous and comprehensive research investigation. The Allegretto Wave is the first laser to utilize Wavefront-Optimized technology, meaning that the wavefront algorithms obtained by wavefront-guided topography tools are incorporated into the laser itself via a computer, rather than a person entering the data by hand. Such technology reduces human error.

WaveLight specifically opted to take a more conservative approach to its study of the Allegretto Wave than different companies did with other wavefront lasers. WaveLight did not begin FDA trials until it had tried to advance the development of wavefront-guided procedures to the next level. This approach provides a lesser chance of adjustments being necessary now that the trials have ended.

"In selecting sites for inclusion in the FDA study, we prudently chose nationally-recognized laser centers retaining nationally-recognized refractive surgeons," says National Study Director, Guy Kezerian, M.D., F.A.C.S. "Dr. Bond and his practice's proven ability to successfully conduct an FDA study made Bond Eye Associates and the Illinois Valley Eye Laser Institute a natural choice."

Bond Eye Associates is a medical group practice that brings full-service eyecare to Central Illinois. Bond eyecare services are provided by four physicians, three optometrists and a staff of more than 40. Bond has offices located in Pekin, Peoria, and Bloomington, as well as satellite locations in Canton and Clinton.