FDA Approves Visx’s Vision Laser Device

Visx Inc. and Autonomous Technologies Corp. won separate Food and Drug Administration approvals for their laser devices to help correct vision. Santa Clara-based Visx, one of the pioneering makers of eye lasers, said it won FDA clearance to add farsightedness to the list of vision problems that can be surgically corrected with its laser. The company’s laser is now the only one cleared to treat the full spectrum of vision problems in a booming laser surgery market. Separately, Autonomous Technologies said it won FDA approval to sell its LadarVision system to treat nearsightedness and astigmatism. The approval brings the still money-losing company into a market dominated by Visx and Summit Technologies Inc. In Nasdaq trading, Visx shares rose $6.50 to close at $54.25, while shares of Orlando, Fla.-based Autonomous fell 50 cents to close at $4.56. Shares of Waltham, Mass.-based Summit rose 25 cents to close at $4.38 on Nasdaq.