Carl Zeiss Meditec: Benchmark for Eye Disease Treatment -- Company Ships 15,000th Ophthalmic Laser Worldwide

DUBLIN, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 30, 2007 -- A valuable tool in the fight to prevent vision loss is now more widely available as Carl Zeiss Meditec ships its 15,000th ophthalmic laser to the East West Eye Institute in Los Angeles. The premium lasers, which are used to perform retinal, cataract and glaucoma disease therapy, have been installed in major teaching institutions as well as leading eye care centers worldwide such as Columbia University, the University Eye Clinic of Milan in Italy, and the International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care in India.

"We purchased the VISULAS laser because of the successful history we have had with Carl Zeiss Meditec, and because of its extreme accuracy during therapeutic procedures," said Fred Kurata, M.D., president of the East West Eye Institute. "The new laser has a particularly high level of precision so there are little to no side effects for the patient and significantly less risk. As a result, we are able to more confidently treat patients with diseases of the retina such as diabetic retinopathy, as well as preserve vision in patients with glaucoma."

With its 15,000th ophthalmic laser shipment, Carl Zeiss Meditec has leveraged its suite of ophthalmic laser systems as the benchmark for therapy, safety and efficiency. The VISULAS YAG III Combi -- the laser installed in Dr. Kurata's lab -- is designed for the treatment of retinal, cataract and glaucoma therapy in one system, offering photocoagulation, post cataract treatments, laser trabeculoplasty and combined iridotomy. With a high pulse frequency of 2.5 Hz for faster procedures and a four-point aiming beam for perfect targeting and astigmatism detection, the VISULAS YAG III is considered the gold standard in photodisruption. Additional highlights include the patented ZEISS Super-Gaussian beam profile, which ensures that optical breakdown is achieved with very low pulse energies (2.5 mJ in Air), resulting in fewer side effects for the patient and less risk due to a high level of accuracy during therapy. Additionally, the electronic micromanipulator allows for simultaneous guidance of the slit lamp illumination and laser to maximize treatment precision, efficiency and field of view.

The Carl Zeiss Meditec lasers will be showcased at the upcoming American Academy of Refractive and Cataract Surgery (ASCRS) meeting, April 27 - May 1, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting, November 10 -13, 2007, and at the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) annual meeting, December 1 - 5, 2007.

About Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma

Diabetic retinopathy results in damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina caused by complications of diabetes. The effect of diabetic retinopathy on vision varies widely, depending on the stage of the disease. Some common symptoms include blurred vision, hemorrhaging vessels that leak into the retina causing spots, and sudden vision loss. In the later phases of the disease, continued abnormal vessel growth and scar tissue may cause serious problems such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no symptoms. In fact, experts estimate that half the people affected by glaucoma may not know they have it. Early detection is vital to stopping the progress of the disease, as there is no cure for glaucoma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans, and the second leading cause of blindness in the world. If detected early and accurately, physicians will have more time to treat the disease and preserve vision, possibly before vision loss.

About Carl Zeiss Meditec

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704) is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. This market position is based on over 160 years of experience in optical innovation. The company has two primary areas of activity. In the field of ophthalmology, Carl Zeiss Meditec offers integrated solutions for treating the four main eye diseases: vision defects (refraction), cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders. Product innovations range from basic systems such as slit lamps and fundus cameras to standard setting diagnostic systems such as the Humphrey® Field Analyzer, the Stratus OCT™ and the IOLMaster®, through to the surgical microscopes and innovative treatment systems in refractive laser surgery.

In the field of neuro and ENT surgery, Carl Zeiss Meditec is the world's leading provider of surgical microscopes and microsurgical visualisation solutions for a very broad range of applications, such as tumour and vascular surgery in the head region and/or spinal surgery. The most recent example of our innovative performance in the area of microsurgery is the OPMI Pentero® visualization system, which allows efficient and ergonomic patient treatment.

Carl Zeiss Meditec's medical technology portfolio is rounded off by visualization systems for doctors in private practice and promising future technologies such as intraoperative radiation therapy, which allows the targeted treatment of breast cancer and brain cancer directly during surgery.

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is based in Jena, Germany, with subsidiaries in Germany (Carl Zeiss Meditec Surgical GmbH and Carl Zeiss Meditec Vertriebsgesellschaf mbH), the USA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin California), in Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec Co., Ltd., Tokyo), Spain (Carl Zeiss Meditec Iberia S.A., Madrid) and France (Ioltech SAS, La Rochelle, and Carl Zeiss Meditec France SAS, Le Pecq).

Thirty-five percent of the Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free float. The remaining 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss, one of the world's leading international groups engaged in the optical and opto-electronics industry. For more information, visit www.meditec.zeiss.com/usa.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Amy Cook 925.552.7893 Email Contact