2007-04-06 22:05:09 -

NEW YORK, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The popularity of laser vision correction coupled with newer technologies, such as bladeless LASIK and phakic intraocular lens implants, are setting the stage for tremendous worldwide growth in the refractive vision correction market, driving sales from $1.3 billion in 2006 to an estimated $4.5 billion in 2009, according to Refractive Vision Correction Worldwide: A Market Analysis, a new industry analysis from market research firm Kalorama Information.

With the combination of a rapidly aging population, increasing incidence of myopia and presbyopia, underserved world markets and

technological advances, refractive vision correction is experiencing market changes not seen since the introduction of LASIK in the last decade. Kalorama believes these trends will produce a market of over $4.5 billion based on revenues from LASIK, RVC alternatives, the fees and services related to laser systems, and intraocular lens implants.

Worldwide acceptance of RVC has been sluggish at best. Complications related to LASIK procedures have been a persistent factor and have to some extent been an obstacle to the acceleration of procedures. Retreatment rates for LASIK have been as high as 18% in some studies. However, overall patient satisfaction with LASIK procedures is high-anywhere from 92-98%-and advanced technologies, such as bladeless LASIK and wavefront guided LASIK, will continue to mitigate fears about the procedures, increase patient confidence, and set the stage for rapid market acceptance and growth.

"Laser vision correction has successfully made its way out of infancy and will continue to be a dominant force in this market as it gains greater acceptance outside the U.S.," notes Steven Heffner, the publisher of Kalorama Information. "However, we expect intraocular lens implants to take off and represent more than 30% of refractive vision correction by 2009."

Refractive Vision Correction Worldwide looks at the entire market for non- disease eye treatment procedures. It also includes market share of key competitors, current procedures and forecasts by condition and procedure, breakdown of services by provider and more. The report is available from Kalorama Information by visiting http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Refractive-Vision-Correction-1445485. It is also available at http://www.marketresearch.com/.

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of http://www.marketresearch.com/, supplies the latest in independent market research on medical markets. For more information, contact Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014 or tehart@marketresearch.com, or visit http://www.kaloramainformation.com/.

Contact: Tom Ehart MarketResearch.com 240-747-3014 tehart@marketresearch.com

Source: Kalorama Information