STAAR Surgical's Collamer(R) IOL and Elastimide(R) IOL Each Recognized with New Technology Intraocular Lens Clas...( MONROVIA Calif. July 24 /- STAAR ...),Health

MONROVIA, Calif., July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has designated two of STAAR's new aspheric cataract lenses as New Technology Intraocular Lenses (NTIOLs). The lenses are the Afinity Collamer(R) Aspheric Single Piece foldable intraocular lens (IOL) Model CC4204A and the Elastimide(R) Silicone Aspheric foldable intraocular lens Model AQ2015A. The Afinity Collamer Aspheric Single Piece IOL can be delivered through a 2.2 mm incision using STAAR's new nanoPOINT(TM) Injector System. The Elastimide Silicone IOL is available immediately for use with conventional injectors, and is also planned to be packaged in STAAR's proprietary preloaded injector system.

To receive NTIOL recognition an IOL must first be an FDA approved IOL with labeling and advertising consistent with the specific claim or characteristic for which CMS approval is being sought. The STAAR Afinity Collamer Aspheric IOL and Elastimide Silicone Aspheric IOL have proven to reduce spherical aberrations and have met all other CMS requirements for approval. All of STAAR's aspheric lenses feature a proprietary optical design (patent pending) that is optimized for the naturally curved surface of the retina and certain other anatomical features of the human eye, and provides outstanding image quality even if decentered.

This approval for NTIOL reimbursement status means that Medicare will provide an additional reimbursement of $50 per Collamer and Elastimide Aspheric lens when provided to a Medicare patient in an Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC). ASCs perform well over one
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