�         LASIK pricing. John J. Klobnak, chairman and CEO of Laser Vision Centers, Inc., told a recent Wall Street conference that he believes refractive surgery prices are stabilizing, though they still cover a wide range. He said his company expects to strengthen its position in any industry shakeout.

�         FAA OKs Intacs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Intacs prescription inserts for all classes of FAA-licensed pilots. Intacs becomes the first non-laser option for correcting myopia to be approved by the FAA.

�         New centers. LCA-Vision has opened three value-priced laser vision correction centers in the Philadelphia area under its LasikPlus brand. The centers are in King of Prussia and Chadds Ford, Pa., and Mount Laurel, N.J. LCA-Vision also reported that its procedure volume hit a record 16,341 in the September quarter, as compared to 13,888 in the previous 3-month period.

�         Alcon gets approval. Alcon's LadarVision System has received FDA approval for correction of hyperopia with or without astigmatism, and for mixed astigmatism, using the LASIK procedure. Alcon says it can now treat all types of refractive errors with LASIK. In a related development, TLC Laser Eye Centers Inc. said it will offer these treatments in 19 of its U.S. centers.

�         Horizon grows. Horizon Vision Centers recently opened its seventh refractive surgery center, this one in San Francisco. The center offers "open access" to Bay Area ophthalmologists.

�         Lawsuit filed. Laser Vision Centers, Inc., a leading provider of excimer lasers, related equipment and support services for refractive surgery, filed suit in a Florida federal court charging Laser Vision Institute with infringing on its registered service marks.

�         Free LASIK. Stahl Eye Centers of New York City is offering free laser vision correction to city firefighters who are active members of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York. Stahl says more than 50 firefighters have already been treated under this program.

�         Money-back trial. Hunkeler Eye Centers of Kansas City, Mo., is offering a 30-day trial of Intacs prescription inserts. If not completely satisfied, patients can have the Intacs removed and either receive a full refund or another type of refractive procedure at no additional cost.