" NEW YORK, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The popularity of laser vision correction coupled with newer technologies, such as bladeless LASIK and phakic intraocular lens implants, are setting the stage for tremendous worldwide growth in the refractive vision correction market, driving sales from $1.3 billion in 2006 to an estimated $4.5 billion in 2009, according to Refractive Vision Correction Worldwide: A Market Analysis, a new industry analysis from market research firm Kalorama Information. With the combination of a rapidly aging population, increasing incidence of myopia and presbyopia, underserved world markets and technological advances, refractive vision correction is experiencing market changes not seen since the introduction of LASIK in the last decade. Kalorama believes these trends will produce a market of over $4.5 billion based on revenues from LASIK, RVC alternatives, the fees and services related to laser systems, and intraocular lens implants. Worldwide acceptance of RVC has been sluggish at best. Complications related to LASIK procedures have been a persistent factor and have to some extent been an obstacle to the acceleration of procedures. Retreatment rates for LASIK have been as high as 18% in some studies. However, overall patient satisfaction with LASIK procedures is high-anywhere from 92-98%-and advanced technologies, such as bladeless LASIK and wavefront guided LASIK,
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