FDA approves excimer laser for refractive surgery

The FDA approved Bausch & Lomb’s 100 Hz excimer laser (217z100) as part of the company’s Zyoptix personalized laser vision-correction system.

In both standard and custom treatment modes, the 217z100 laser operates at twice the speed of Bausch & Lomb’s current system on the U.S. market, according to the company.

The laser will be commercially available by July 2006. Also, practices with the current Zyoptix system will be given an option to upgrade to the faster technology.