LCA-Vision New Excimer Laser Strategy to Reduce Operating Expenses in Excess of $3 Millio...( CINCINNATI March 10 /- LCA-Vision Inc...),Health

CINCINNATI, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq: LCAV) today announced that following a rigorous clinical comparison of excimer laser platform technologies, the Company has finalized plans to reduce the number of platforms at each of its LasikPlus(R) vision centers from three to two. The Company expects this will reduce annual operating expenses in excess of $3 million when the program is implemented fully no later than the end of the third quarter of 2009. New agreements with equipment manufacturers will also provide sufficient cash to allow LCA-Vision to retire $2.1 million of capital lease obligations immediately and will fund additional cash to its balance sheet by the end of the third quarter. The Company expects to begin implementing the program later this month. The Company expects this program to result in a significant reduction in operating expenses and improvement of its already strong balance sheet.

Under the plan, LCA-Vision will standardize excimer treatment platforms through five-year relationships with Abbott Medical Optics Inc., (AMO) (formerly Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.) for the VISX Star S4 IR excimer laser and Alcon Laboratories, Inc. for the ALLEGRETTO WAVE(R) Eye-Q 400Hz excimer laser. LasikPlus(R) vision centers will continue to offer the same broad spectrum of treatment options that includes standard treatment, a custom wavefront guided treatment and an optimized treatment, as well as the IntraLase femotsecond technology.

"We are capitalizing on an opportunity afforded by advancements in excimer laser platforms, which allow us to reduce the number of lasers per center and lower costs while ensuring our continued ability to achieve industry-leading clinical outcomes," said Steven C. Straus, Chief Executive Officer of LCA-Vision. "Importantly, we made this
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