"Webcasts are the wave of the future," says Lauren Kanner, marketing director for Refractec, a developer of refractive surgery technologies. "Ophthalmologists have become very Web-oriented. For them, a Webcast is a learning tool they can conveniently fit into a busy schedule. We recently gave ophthalmologists around the world an opportunity to learn about Refractec's Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) procedure for hyperopia."

The CK procedure, which is currently in Phase III clinical trials, uses radio frequency technology. Refractec's Webcast included a live, 8-minute demonstration of the treatment, followed by an opportunity for viewers to question Robert K. Maloney, M.D., M.A., of the Maloney Vision Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., the surgeon who performed the procedure, and clinical investigator Stephen F. Brint, M.D.

"It's really a modern-day return to the era of the surgical amphitheatre," says Kanner. "We counted almost 900 logons to the Refractec Web site (www.refractec.com) during the Webcast, which was far above our expectations."

Sunrise Technologies International chose the same week in late September to offer its own Webcast featuring its recently FDA-approved "three-second, no-touch" Hyperion LTK laser treatment for hyperopia in people age 40 and older. Unlike the Refractec Webcast, which was targeted solely at ophthalmologists, the Sunrise Webcast was aimed at both medical professionals and the general public.

Sandra C. Belmont, M.D., F.A.C.S., performed the Hyperion LTK procedure and participated in a post-surgery chat session with Webcast viewers.

The Webcast of the Hyperion LTK procedure will be available for viewing on the www.sunriseltk.com Web site until the end of the year.