Pentax 2003 Annual Report Download - page 17

Health Care
The Health Care division handles contact lenses, intraocular lenses (IOLs) and other businesses related to
ophthalmology.
The contact lens business is the mainstay business for the division, and one of the main earning
contributors for the Company. The division not only develops and manufactures high-value-added prod-
ucts, but also operates a chain of retail outlets called Eye City, which provide quality service.
Though expansion of the overall market for contact lenses is beginning to slow, several products
have experienced strong growth in recent years, such as soft and hard multifocal contact lenses and toric
lenses for astigmatic eyes. The market for multifocal contact lenses in particular is expected to grow, as the
first generation of contact lens wearers age. Hoya will expand its sales in this field by providing specialized
customer service.
In retail store development, Hoya continues to open 10 to 12 new stores a year, while closing
unprofitable locations. By maintaining this balance of scrap and build, the Company is increasing the
number of strong performing stores with the aim of greater revenue and profits. In terms of service as well,
Hoya is also taking steps to position itself as the top contact retailer in each area, offering a variety of
guarantees against tearing, loss, change in prescription or other damage, and providing customers with
expert knowledge and service.
Intraocular lenses are one of the most prominent of the Company’s businesses. The demand for
IOLs is increasing as society ages, and Hoya’s foldable soft-type IOLs, introduced in Japan in November
2001, are winning praise from ophthalmologists and the medical community along with a steadily increas-
ing share of the domestic market. During fiscal 2004 the Company will introduce new products with even
higher degrees of added value, fueling its business development in Japan and overseas. In the European
market, CE Marking*1has already been obtained, and the beginnings of a marketing network established.
Hoya has also begun construction of a main manufacturing facility in Singapore in preparation for
mass production of IOLs. In the U.S. market, the necessary procedures have been instigated to obtain
approval from the FDA*2.
Notes:
1.CE Marking is a certification that a product complies with the relevant health, safety and environmental protection legislations
of the European Union (EU).
2.The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the U.S. authority responsible for approving clinical trials and reviews of medi-
cines and foods.
Contact Lenses
The number of contact wearers is steadi-
ly increasing, not only of the usual near-
and far-sightedness, but also of multifo-
cal and other high-performance lenses.
Hoya develops its own lenses, as well as
operates a chain of retail stores known as
Eye City, offering ophthalmology ser-
vices, quality products from several com-
panies and a customer-oriented service.
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Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
IOLs are artificial lenses used to replace
the clouded natural lenses in cataract
patients. Hoya is at the leading edge of
this field in development of soft IOLs,
incorporating opinions from the medical
community to improve materials, manu-
facturing processes, design and color,
and winning international praise for its
product performance and high standards
of quality.
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