Laser Vision Centers to Pay $1.5-Million Fine

Laser Vision Centers Inc. and four of its executives will pay $1.5 million in fines to settle charges that they enabled their eye-surgery lasers to be altered to treat a wider range of patients, the Food and Drug Administration said. According to an FDA complaint, St. Louis-based Laser Vision shipped key cards used to operate the lasers to Bermuda. There, the key cards were altered to enable lasers to treat patients with nearsightedness and astigmatism beyond the FDA-approved range. The key cards then were sold to physicians and clinics in the United States, the FDA said. Laser Vision said the settlement contained no findings of wrongdoing by the company or its executives. The company said it was “disappointed to have been singled out by the FDA on a matter that was clearly widespread” within the industry. Laser Vision agreed to pay $1 million to settle the charges, and four executives, including Chief Executive John Klobnak, agreed to pay fines totaling $500,000, the FDA said. Shares in Laser Vision closed off 3 cents at $1.94 on Nasdaq before the news was released.