-Gamagori, JAPAN, May 31, 2002-

NIDEK Co., Ltd. announced today it received allowance from the United States Patent & Trademark Office on March 19, 2002. The patent, entitled "Corneal Surgery Apparatus", relates to the invention of an eye tracker device to detect possible eye movement during laser refractive surgery. The eye tracker ensures proper alignment of the laser with the patient's eye during the surgical procedure. The invention is believed to be basic technology regarding eye tracker systems and is used in NIDEK's EC-5000 excimer laser.

"We are pleased the U.S. Patent Office has recognized the unique technology of NIDEK's eye tracker system by granting our patent application" stated Hideo Ozawa, President of NIDEK Co., Ltd. NIDEK has filed for patent protection in other countries, with this application first filed in 1995 in Japan.