In the interest of public safety we are releasing Dr. Rand's Memo addressed to REI staff.

MEMO

Date: ------ 04/25/08

To: --------- All Staff

From: ------ Dr. Rand

RE: --------- Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Yesterday and today, the morning talk shows from NBC and CBS reported about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing expert testimony about the safety of LASIK.

The Today Show showed an unhappy patient with dry eyes, etc. I believe that the investigation is being brought about because of the facilities performing LASIK have not been subject to an accreditation process or regulation. These are the type of problems that we have seen in a number of patients coming to the Rand Eye Institute from unlicensed surgical centers.

Please note that the Rand Surgical Pavilion, Rand Eye Institute’s ambulatory surgical center is a licensed surgical facility and it is Joint Commission accredited. We have one of the only facilities performing LASIK surgery under this standard of care in the South Florida area. Almost all of the other facilities are unlicensed and perform their LASIK procedures without Joint Commission protocols and standards. Almost all of the unlicensed centers fail to utilize sterile surgical technique for LASIK.

"Our sense is that most of the patients who are having the procedures are reasonably satisfied and are doing fairly well," Daniel Schultz, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health told reporters during a telephone briefing. "But clearly there is a group that is not satisfied and do not get the kind of results that they expect. What we're really trying to do is figure out what that number is."

The FDA is convening a panel of outside advisers for a day-long meeting Friday to hear from patients who have experienced problems and make recommendations about whether those considering the procedures should receive better information about the risks.

"We want to provide people with accurate, timely information to help people make decisions," Schultz said. About 700,000 Americans each year undergo the procedures, known as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis). About 7.6 million Americans in all have undergone LASIK, which costs about $2,500 per eye.

Friday, April 25, 2008 from Washington Post

If you receive any phone calls or are asked questions regarding the LASIK hearing, you may inform them that, we believe that the problems with LASIK are frequently due to the lack of the appropriate standards of care in the unregulated facilities which are usually storefronts or doctors offices. These are not problems that are likely to occur in a facility such as the Rand Eye Institute. LASIK remains safe and effective when it is done the proper way and for properly screened candidates.

We have always set our standards above the norm and will continue to do so in the best interest of our patients. We will not compromise our patient’s care or their vision. One of the largest eye surgical centers in the nation, the Rand Eye Institute is built on the reputation we have established over the past 30 years. The government review will reaffirm to our patients that they deserve only the highest standard of care and the best that science has to offer.

Any questions, please contact me directly.

WJR/pam