Norwood EyeCare Granted First EpiLASIK Patent

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2006--Norwood Abbey Ltd (ASX:NAL):

Key points:

-- First Patent for EpiLASIK granted in USA

-- 2005 market for devices and consumables estimated at more than US$100M

-- Discussions commenced with a number of interested parties to exploit the intellectual property

Norwood Abbey Ltd (ASX:NAL) advises that the US Patent Office has granted the first patent of the Norwood EyeCare patent portfolio, relating to EpiLASIK refractive surgery.

The EpiLASIK procedure enables laser corrections to the eye without needing to make a cut through the eye. The removal of the need for a 'stromal cut' (through the eye) is seen as a major advance over the most commonly performed procedure known as LASIK.

The Norwood EyeCare patent that has been granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office today is believed to be the only granted patent anywhere in the world that relates specifically to separating the epithelium layer from the surface of the cornea of an eye for the purpose of preparing the cornea for laser vision correction surgery.

Norwood believes that the granting of this patent sets Norwood EyeCare apart from any other Company interested in supplying product into what Norwood EyeCare believes will be a very lucrative market for the company. The granting of the patent is a major step for Norwood in the process of becoming a key player in the EpiLASIK space.

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