October 17, 2006

NIDEK, Inc., a global leader in laser and diagnostic instrumentation for the optical and eye care industry, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its EC-5000 Excimer laser for the treatment of hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism for use in LASIK.

With this approval, ophthalmic surgeons are able to treat hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism (+0.50D to +5.00D sphere and up to 2.00D cylinder) in addition to the current approved range for myopia and myopic astigmatism. Hyperopia or farsightedness may be surgically treated by laser vision correction or LASIK.

Mr. Motoki Ozawa, Vice President, NIDEK Co., Ltd. stated, "This is a historic event for NIDEK and we are especially pleased to have this long-awaited approval. The excellent and outstanding results from 291 eyes demonstrate NIDEK's commitment to providing an innovative, technologically superior excimer platform for laser vision correction surgery. Furthermore, NIDEK is actively developing its own custom ablation and wavefront technology platform. The EC-5000 Excimer Laser System is a perfect pairing to NIDEK's strong, world-class product portfolio in unsurpassed diagnostic and surgical instrumentation, optical finishing and dispensing products in vision care."

The following chart demonstrates six month follow-up results of the safety and effectiveness of the EC-5000 Hyperopia clinical results:

Six Month Follow-Up Results (291 eyes)

69% within ± 0.5 D
93% within ± 1.0 D
60% 20/20 or better (UCVA)
86% 20/25 or better (UCVA)
99% 20/40 or better (UCVA)


About NIDEK

NIDEK is a global leader in diagnostic and surgical eye care products for ophthalmology and optometry focused on developing and delivering innovative technologies that enhance the quality of human life. With diversified clinical research and continual innovative development, an array of laser and optical scanning products offered that lead the way for improved diagnosis and treatments. The relentless commitment to customer satisfaction means NIDEK will diligently strive to continually exceed expectations. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.nidek.com.

For Further Information, contact:

USA
Mr. Patrick Kelly, Project Manager
Phone: 800.223.9044 ext 712

INTERNATIONAL
Mr. Lamar Chandler, Director of Global Marketing
Phone: 800.223.9044 ext 726