AcuFocus Clinical Trial: Media Release 30 September 2009

There may be a solution soon for those who find reading glasses frustrating. Many people over
the age of 45 find they have lost the ability to see near objects in clear focus, a universal condition
called presbyopia. Reading glasses will make close vision clear again, but are often the cause
of frustration when you either cannot find them, don't have them with you or find that they
blur distance vision too much.

Dr Dean Corbett at Auckland Eye in Remuera says the AcuFocus Corneal Inlay may be a great
choice for some patients. Although still in Food and Drug Administration clinical trial status, the
four-year data on the inlay study is very promising. Out of 400 people, most can read a newspaper,
send text messages and see the digits on their wristwatch without putting on reading glasses.

Auckland Eye is participating in the worldwide research study. People may qualify for the study
if they have lost their reading vision but still have normal distance vision, are in good health and
are between the ages of 45 and 60. Dr Corbett will perform the procedure at no cost and all
pre-operative work up and follow up for three years is also free. To be eligible you have to commit
to attend follow-up checks for a full three years. The work up and follow-up examinations are very
involved and may take between 1 and 3 hours of your time each visit.

"A lot of people are frustrated by the inconvenience of reading glasses," says Dr Corbett. "As an
eye surgeon, I want to be able to offer people choices that provide them with solutions to their eye
problems. I am confident that the AcuFocus Corneal Inlay will help people to enjoy some freedom
from their reading glasses. I do tell people who commit to the study that they may still need
glasses to read very small print or when reading in dim light."

Presbyopia, the need to wear reading glasses to see near objects in clear focus, occurs when
the eye's natural lens loses its ability to focus on near points. As a result, words or near objects
are blurry. By the time most of us celebrate our 50th birthday we have presbyopia and require
reading glasses.

Smaller than a contact lens, the inlay looks like a black ring with a tiny hole in the centre. This hole
creates a pinhole effect, increasing the depth of focus of the eye and helps to focus light rays.
As a result, near objects are clearer.

The procedure involves creating a pocket within the cornea, the clear watch-glass like front of the
eye, followed by implanting the inlay within the pocket.

"We have a very limited number of people that we can enrol in the AcuFocus study," Dr Corbett says.

Anyone interested in learning more about the AcuFocus study can contact Auckland Eye
on (09) 524-1562 or email research@aucklandeye.co.nz