News Release ~ July 1, 2002

Another First for Dr. Jonathan Frantz
The Center for Laser Vision Correction First in State of Florida to Offer Custom-CAP Technology

FORT MYERS - Local Ophthalmologist and LASIK specialist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, performed the first Custom-Contoured Ablation Pattern (Custom-CAP) Procedure in the State of Florida on Tuesday, June 18. Custom-CAP is a procedure (approved for either PRK or LASIK) that is performed on patients who have already had at least one previous laser refractive procedure on any brand of laser and have had a treatment that has been or has become decentered, usually due to asymmetrical healing.

Earlier this year, Dr. Frantz attended a conference at the VISX headquarters in Santa Clara, California, as one of the first 12 surgeons in the country being trained to perform Custom-CAP. With Custom-CAP, Dr. Frantz can now perform a treatment precisely controlled by size, depth, and location, making it possible to reshape the cornea to optimum correction.

Only physicians who are using the VISX STAR S3 ActiveTrak Excimer Laser System, together with a Carl Zeiss Ophthalmic Systems Humphrey ATLAS corneal topographer and associated VisionPro Ablation Planning Software, are able to perform Custom-CAP treatments. Dr. Frantz is currently the only LASIK surgeon in Southwest Florida with this technology.

The Custom-CAP procedure is meant to be performed on patients who have decentered treatments and who complain of such visual defects as starbursts, glare, doubling of vision, night vision disturbances, or blurring.

The FDA has approved the use of the topographically driven Custom-CAP Method under a Humanitarian Use Device exemption (HDE). An HDE authorizes the marketing of a device that is intended to benefit patients in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases or conditions that affect or is manifested in fewer than 4,000 individuals in the United States per year.

Although initially Dr. Frantz will treat his own patients who meet the criteria for treatment with the Custom-CAP Method, eventually he will add other candidates to his waiting list who have had procedures on other lasers which resulted in a decentered treatment.

For more information about this new technology, call The Center for Laser Vision Correction at 941-791-2020.