FREMONT, Calif., June 15, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- NIDEK Inc. announces plans to help doctors cope with the nationwide Fusarium fungal keratitis outbreak. As of late April, a total of 73 cases in the United States had been confirmed with fungal keratitis, with another 113 still under investigation, according to FDA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now list 29 states or territories with a confirmed case or one under investigation.
The NIDEK Confoscan4 scanning slit confocal microscope is able to image these infections in-vivo. This allows for a diagnosis in minutes, while traditional techniques involving cultures or biopsies can take a week or longer. "The Confoscan is invaluable to us in early diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Identifying the type of infection and being able to initiate the appropriate treatment as soon as possible is vital to keeping these infections from becoming critical," says Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida.
NIDEK has set up a referral website (www.usa.nidek.com/confocal) to help doctors locate Confoscan microscopes in their area. NIDEK will also be working closely with the doctors at Bascom Palmer to establish a reading center to assist physicians who do not routinely see patients with fungal keratitis and perform imaging with in-vivo corneal confocal microscopy.
NIDEK is a global leader in eye care products for ophthalmology and optometry. With diversified clinical research and continual development, an array of laser and optical scanning products are offered that lead the way for improved diagnosis and treatments.
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