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Groundbreaking Treatment for Amblyopia
and Myopia
Singapore, June 10, 2004 -- The Singapore National
Eye Centre today announced the opening of the world’s first
non-surgical, interactive computer-aided NeuroVisionTM treatment
centre in Singapore. The innovative, groundbreaking technology offers
treatment for adults with amblyopia (‘lazy’ eye) which
has been considered untreatable until now as well as individuals
with low degrees of myopia (short-sightedness). The NeuroVision
technology improves vision without the need for surgery, contact
lenses or medication. It is a series of computer-based programme
that exercises the part of the brain responsible for visual function
to improve contrast sensitivity and to sharpen images seen. It is
unique in that the programme is interactive, tracks the patient’s
individual progress to customise to the individual’s visual
needs.
NeuroVision treats the condition known as Amblyopia
or ‘lazy’ eye. Until the NeuroVision technology, there
is no known treatment for adult amblyopia. It is estimated that
more than two per cent of the world’s population are amblyopic.
Myopia or short-sightedness is the most prevalent
eye disorder in Singapore and the prevalence is among the highest
in the world. This trend is seen in many other countries in the
Asia-Pacific, such as Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan and Japan where as high
as 80 per cent of young adult population is myopic. NeuroVision’s
launch of its first treatment centre in the Singapore National Eye
Centre provides the opportunity for the Singaporean community with
increasing rate of myopia to be the first in the world to benefit
from its technology.
The success rate of the NeuroVision treatment
is encouraging, with over 80 per cent of the participants in its
clinical trials, conducted in the United States, Singapore and Israel,
showing visual improvement. The technology has minimal risk and
has received regulatory approval from the United States Federal
Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union’s CE Mark.
In achieving the approval of these globally respected regulatory
bodies, the NeuroVision treatment demonstrated safety in treatment,
reliability in results and validity of its technology.
Mr. Alain Leneveu, Chief Executive Officer
of NeuroVision Inc., is confident in the NeuroVision technology:
“I can see the NeuroVision treatment becoming the next best
thing in vision enhancement after the revolution of cataract micro
surgery in the 80’s and the LASIK refractive surgery in the
90’s.”
At the launching ceremony, Cl A/Prof Ang Chong
Lye, Director, SNEC said, “ The NeuroVision Centre will become
part of the continuum of treatment of myopia offered by the SNEC
that covers low to high degrees of myopia with a range of treatment
options which includes now NeuroVision, the non-surgical means of
vision improvement, the medical contact lens service which helps
patients with contact lens complications and LASIK which is laser
surgery for the correction of higher degrees of myopia.”
Based on 20 years of research, the technology
trains the brain to see more clearly. The treatment involves the
individual sitting 1.5 metres away from a 17-inch monitor for 20
minutes every other day for approximately 10 weeks. The treatment,
currently available at the Singapore National Eye Centre, can also
be conducted at home.
NeuroVision is strategically partnered with
the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) in the furtherance of
its research and development and with the Singapore National Eye
Centre in the commercial provision of the NeuroVision treatment.
The NeuroVision treatment for Myopia and Amblyopia
are available at the SNEC NeuroVision Centre to anyone aged nine
and above who meet a number of treatment criteria. The potential
of this technology to improve the vision of children would aid in
the national effort of controlling the increase of myopia in children.
Members of the public interested in this treatment can call the
SNEC NeuroVision Centre at 6322 8818 or email nv@snec.com.sg for
more information.
NeuroVision Inc is a U.S. based company founded in 1999 and registered
in the state of Delaware. Its headquarters are located in Singapore
under NeuroVision Pte Ltd. The company’s major investors include
Bio*One Capital, a subsidiary of Singapore EDB Investments Pte Ltd;
Temasek Holdings; Concord Ventures; AG Tech; and Shamrock Holdings.
Website: www.neuro-vision.com
For further information, please contact:
Ravi Chandran
Public Relations Department
Singapore National Eye Centre
Tel: 6322 8394
E-mail: ravi@snec.com.sg
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Copyright
© 2004. Singapore National Eye Centre. All rights reserved.
