Advanced Medical Optics Acquires WaveFront Sciences

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO), a maker of medical devices and laser vision-correction systems, today announced the acquisition of privately held WaveFront Sciences Inc., a provider of wavefront diagnostic systems for refractive surgery and medical research, for $20 million in cash.

AMO said it will pay $14 million at closing and another $6 million if WaveFront meets certain performance milestones over the next three years. Based in Albuquerque, N.M., WaveFront provides highly sensitive optical measurement systems for space telescopes and makes a high resolution Shack-Hartmann-based aberrometer that gives detailed measurements for LASIK laser vision correction procedures. It employs approximately 50 people.

"With this transaction, we secure proprietary technologies and R&D expertise in wavefront sensing and laser optics, which we expect will allow us to further strengthen our Advanced CustomVue laser vision correction technology and accelerate the introduction of next-generation diagnostics that build on our WaveScan Wavefront systems," said AMO Chairman, President and CEO Jim Mazzo.

The WaveFront acquisition follows AMO's Jan. 8 announcement of its intent to acquire IntraLase Corp., a provider of femtosecond laser technology (See: Advanced Medical Optics to Buy IntraLase for $808M). AMO said it expects to complete the Intralase transaction in the second quarter of 2007.

For more information, visit: www.amo-inc.com