DUBLIN, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2017) - With over 700,000 procedures performed internationally since its introduction in 2011, and offered in approximately 600 clinics in 62 countries around the world, ReLEx® SMILE (SMall Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a proven, effective and safe laser vision correction (LVC) procedure for the treatment of myopia or nearsightedness. Following the recent U.S. FDA approval* for this revolutionary procedure, Jon G. Dishler, M.D. at the Dishler Laser Institute became the first to perform this procedure on a patient in the U.S. this past Friday, March 3, 2017.

"We are excited to see the first SMILE procedures in the U.S. SMILE, the first major advancement in laser vision correction since the 1990s, promises to reinvigorate the refractive market by providing surgeons a new premium laser vision correction option for their practice," says Jim Mazzo, Global President Ophthalmic Devices for Carl Zeiss Meditec. "SMILE has been growing in popularity with surgeons and patients around the world for the past five years. Over 1000 surgeons are now regularly performing SMILE procedures in their clinics, and now refractive surgeons across the U.S. can bring the benefits of SMILE to their patients."

ReLEx® SMILE is a minimally-invasive corneal refractive procedure which can only be performed with the VisuMax® femtosecond laser from ZEISS. With this new treatment option recently receiving U.S. FDA approval, ReLEx SMILE is now available in every major market globally. U.S. surgeons can now offer their patients the newest, most advanced laser eye surgery technology available for the correction of myopia.

In the SMILE procedure, surgeons correct patients' myopic refractive errors using the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser to create a thin disc-shaped lenticule within the cornea, which is then removed by the surgeon through a small incision on the surface of the cornea, also created by the laser. SMILE is a flapless procedure, which requires only one laser to perform the entire treatment.

"Today, a new era in refractive surgery begins in the U.S. Thanks to the excellent work of the many individuals in our clinical study, U.S. doctors can now offer their patients this innovative, breakthrough minimally-invasive laser vision correction procedure," says Dr. Jon Dishler, refractive surgery specialist, founder of the Dishler Laser Institute and U.S. Medical Monitor for the VisuMax SMILE IDE Study. "I am honored to have been given the opportunity to perform the first ReLEx SMILE procedure in the U.S. With SMILE, U.S. surgeons now have a new proven way to help patients who have concerns with conventional vision correction methods -- such as eyeglasses, contact lenses or existing LVC procedures -- to improve their vision and their quality of life. I was very impressed with the excellent refractive outcomes in our clinical study, especially in those patients most dependent on spectacles or contacts in their daily life. Surgeons will also find SMILE appealing to patients as it is a quick, minimally-invasive procedure with fast visual recovery and minimal discomfort."

"This first SMILE procedure performed in the U.S. by Dr. Dishler represents years of collaboration between leading doctors and scientists around the world. ZEISS is pleased to play an integral role in bringing this latest innovation to doctors to help them to advance eye care and improve quality of life for their patients," says Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec.

ZEISS is also conducting an IDE trial in the U.S. on astigmatic myopia to further broaden the spectrum of SMILE for more patients.

*U.S. FDA Approved Indications for Use:

For use in the reduction or elimination of myopia -1.00 D to -8.00D, with ≤ -0.50D cylinder and MRSE -8.25D in the eye to be treated in patients who are 22 years of age or older with documentation of stable manifest refraction over the past year.

Brief profile
 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704), which is listed on TecDAX of the German stock exchange, is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. It provides complete packages of solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including implants and consumable materials. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With approximately 2,900 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of EUR 1,088 million in financial year 2015/16 (to 30 September).

The Group's head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company's presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 35 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's shares are in free float. The remaining approx. 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading companies in the optical and optoelectronic industries.

For more information visit our website at: www.zeiss.com/med