Contact:
Karen Whelan, Public Relations & Practice Marketing Specialist
508-787-1461
kwhelan@optos.com
Optos to Participate in ASCO’s Clinic Director’s Special Interest Group Meeting
9/26/2007
MARLBOROUGH, MA, September 26, 2007 – Optos, a leading medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of retinal imaging devices, is pleased to announce it will participate in the Clinical Director’s Special Interest Group Meeting for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) hosted by The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, September 27-30, 2007.
“The optomap® Retinal Exam has provided our clinical faculty with a great tool that meets the clinical educational mission and helps to improve the quality of care we provide,” stated Sue Oleszewski, OD, Vice President and Executive Director, Patient Care Services, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. “Furthermore, the technology has been a great way to assist in educating our patients on their ocular health. The patients are impressed with the state-of-art nature of this technology.”
Tom Daniells, Vice President, Marketing, Optos North America, will present at the Clinical Director’s Workshop on Saturday, September 29th, 2007 at 1:00 pm. His presentation will focus on the utility of optomap® Retinal Exam as a teaching tool to instruct students of optometry on retinal disease and techniques for retinal examination. Mr. Daniells will also discuss the upcoming availability of a new optometry starter kit, which will include: a new textbook Panoramic Ophthalmoscopy: optomap® Images and Interpretation, recently published by Dr. Jerome Sherman, New York, NY; a CD with case study images available for review in the V2® Vantage software; best practices instruction for imaging techniques and how to review optomap® images; and a CD for recognizing pathology on an optomap® image.
There are currently six Schools of Optometry that have integrated the optomap® Retinal Exam into their clinical care and curriculum for optometric students. The six schools include: New England College of Optometry, Boston, MA; Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI; Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton, CA; University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX; Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR; and Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, PA. Additionally, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL and Inter American University - College of Optometry in Puerto Rico have joined the ranks of Optos technology providers this month.
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 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. As at 30 September 2006 Optos had 232 employees serving more than 2,500 customers in the Company’s existing markets, currently the USA, Canada, UK and Germany. 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.