Ultralase

Infobox_Company
company_name = Ultralase
company_
company_type = Limited company, registered in England and Wales
location = Leeds,UK
foundation = 1991
key_people = Tony Veverka, CEO
Jonathan Simpson, CFO
Mark Korolkiewicz, Clinical Services Director
industry = Healthcare
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
homepage = [http://www.ultralase.com www.ultralase.com]

Ultralase is a healthcare company based in the United Kingdom that specialises in vision correction through laser eye surgery.

Overview and history

Established in 1991 by Christopher Neave, Ultralase were the first to introduce a national network of laser eye surgery clinics in the UK. Following the success of the world's first refractive surgery clinic, opened by US-based investors in Toronto (1989), the UK's first ever laser eye surgery clinic was opened at Clatterbridge hospital, Wirral in January 1991. This clinic was the first to perform laser eye surgery in the UK, and expanded to become the Ultralase network. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/debtext/40204-33.htm House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Feb 2004 (pt 33)] ]

Ultralase is currently owned by [http://www.3i.com/media/press-releases/3i-invests-in-ultralase-to-fund-uk-roll-out-.html 3i] following the £175m purchase from Corporacion Dermoestetica in January 2008 cite web | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSN2742409320071227 | title= Dermoestetica to sell eye unit Ultralase to 3i | date=2007-12-27 | author=Thompson Reuters ] , who had bought the business in May 2005 for £29m cite web | url=http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2005/05/20/13356/Ultralase+sold+for+%C2%A330m+to+Valencia-based+giant.html?key=CLINICS | title= Ultralase sold for £30m to Valencia-based giant | date=2005-05-20 | author=David Challinor ] . Ultralase’s management team comprises Finance Director Jonathan Simpson, Clinical Services Director Mark Korolkiewicz and CEO Tony Veverka.

Clinics

Ultralase has 23 clinics in the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Chester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London – Hammersmith, London – Tottenham Court Road, Maidstone, Manchester, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northampton, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton and St. Albans.

Watchdogs

Ultralase is the only practitioner to provide independently verified results of their treatment in the UK [ [http://www.ultralase.com/vites/verified-results Ultralase Verified Results] ] , monitored by the [http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/homepage.cfm Healthcare Commission] .

Ultralase in the House of Commons

Dr. Ashok Kumar, a British Labour Party politician, made a motion on 4 February 2004 concerning laser eye surgery and mentioning Ultralase in the British House of Commons [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/debtext/40204-33.htm House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Feb 2004 (pt 33)] ] :

:"Laser eye surgery was developed by the ophthalmologist Dr. Steven Trokel in 1987, and first used on a patient in Germany in 1988. The first laser eye treatment clinic using Dr. Trokel's laser was founded by US-based investors in Toronto in 1989. Following the success of the US operation, the first UK clinic was opened at Clatterbridge hospital, in Wirral, in January 1991. It grew into a string of clinics now known as Ultralase, one of Britain's foremost laser eye treatment providers."

:"...While researching the subject, I have become aware that there are those who exemplify the best practice, which I feel needs to be rolled out across the sector. Ultralase—whose chairman, Christopher Neave, is also chief executive of the relatively new industry body, the Eye Laser Association—is one of the larger independent health care providers in the laser eye surgery sector. It does not simply operate within company standards, which appear to be more severe than those required at the statutory level at present. Indeed, during a recent meeting I was most impressed to note that certain changes that I recommended are to be added to its guidance as a direct result of our meeting."

Laser eye surgery services

Ultralase perform the following forms of laser eye surgery:
*LASIK - Where a corneal flap is surgically created and lifted, allowing the laser to reshape the layer underneath.
*LASEK - Similar to LASIK, except a solution is used to soften the surface cells, which are lifted back.
*Intraocular lens (IOL) - Implanting a type of lens inside the eye rather than on its surface.
*Ultra-CK - Reshaping the cornea with the use of radio waves.

References

External links

* [http://www.ultralase.com Ultralase Laser Eye Surgery website]
* [http://www.lasereyeforum.com/ Laser eye surgery help and advice forum]