Eyeworld

EW NEWS & OPINION April 2017 43 nity to bridge those two-Os presents a fascinating opportunity for the combined business to say how do we leverage these deep relationships to better benefit patients worldwide," he said. From the patient perspective, having both a contact lens and sur- gical platform will be an advantage as well, Mr. Frinzi said. "We think our reach now world- wide to be able to treat patients whether they're a young adolescent beginning in contact lenses or a se- nior citizen who has lens opacifica- tion and is in need of lens-based sur- gery and everything in between, we have the portfolio, the commitment, the expertise to be able to serve the needs of the worldwide patient-base much better with the combined con- tact lens platform based in Jackson- ville [Florida], and now the surgical business based out here in southern California," he said. "Ophthalmologists and optome- trists can expect a high quality orga- nization that's focused on minimiz- ing preventable blindness around the world and certainly making eye health available to a large swatch of the worldwide population," Mr. Frinzi added. As Mr. Frinzi put it, there is also a compelling market opportunity in ophthalmology, making Johnson & Johnson's foray back into the surgical space an attractive industry endeavor. "It's approaching about $70 billion; it grows at about 5% a year," he said. What's more, "50% of the world's population could benefit from some form of vision correction, and yet only 10% are really being treated, so there's a huge unmet need, which is another reason why Johnson & Johnson was attracted to make this acquisition of AMO." Culturally, Mr. Frinzi said the companies were a good fit in that they "both share the common view that the patient comes first." From a housekeeping perspective, Mr. Frinzi said AMO branding of its legacy sys- tems will be completely rolled into Johnson & Johnson Vision over the next couple of years. "This is a business that's really going to be focused on overall eye health, and therefore to have that kind of committed parent [in John- son & Johnson] to want to continue to invest in the people, to invest in innovation, to invest in growth— be it organic or inorganic—I think sends a real positive message to not only employees but to the market- place in general," Mr. Frinzi said. EW Contact information Navarro: visionpublicaffairs@abbott.com Ashley McEvoy, company group chairman, Johnson & Johnson consumer medical devices, said the company's acquisition of AMO grows their presence in eye health to better meet patient needs. Source: Johnson & Johnson CORNEA and EYE BANKING NEW ORLEANS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 FORUM 2017 FallSymposium.CorneaSociety.org

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