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Neil D. Donnenfeld
Senior Vice President,
Global Sales & Marketing
Advanced Vision Research
781-939-0118

ADVANCED VISION RESEARCH MAJOR SUPPORTER OF RESEARCH INTO CAUSES OF BLINDING AND PAINFUL EYE DISEASES

WOBURN, MA, August 31, 2004-- Advanced Vision Research, Inc., makers of TheraTears Brand Lubricant Eye Drops is now the single largest private benefactor of The Schepens Eye Research Institute (SERI). SERI is the largest independent eye research institute in America dedicated to the fight against blinding and painful eye disease. “The research conducted at The Schepens has contributed greatly to the body of knowledge embraced by the visual sciences, and has had a major impact on ophthalmic practice internationally” said Jeffrey P. Gilbard, MD, Founder, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Advanced Vision Research. To date Advanced Vision Research has provided over $1.5 million in royalty payments to SERI as part of its agreement with SERI to license the patents developed there by Dr. Gilbard.

Dr. Gilbard began his research program on dry eye in 1976 as a first year medical student at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and then made critical breakthroughs while at the Schepens from 1980 through 1995. The result of his 18-year long research project that was funded by the NIH yielded TheraTears Brand Lubricant Eye Drops. TheraTears is the single most successful commercial project in the history of The Schepens Eye Research Institute.

“All of us at Advanced Vision Research are proud to be able to share in our success by providing ever growing royalty payments to The Schepens Eye Research Institute. The real credit goes to all the Ophthalmologists and Optometrists who recommend TheraTears to their patients. Every time they recommend TheraTears they are helping their patients directly because of its unique efficacy, and because they are indirectly funding research that promises to revolutionize eye care over the next several decades. I don’t think many of them are aware that a percentage of all TheraTears sales go right back into funding critical basic and clinical research” said Dr. Gilbard.

In April, 2004, two new products joined the TheraTears family. TheraTears® in a 1oz. bottle with a disappearing preservative meets the needs of heavy users by allowing them to obtain the increased value made possible by offering a larger size. TheraTears Contact Lens Comfort Drops makes contact lens insertion easier and more comfortable, and relieves dryness during wear. Together with TheraTears Nutrition (Omega-3 supplement with flaxseed oil, fish oil and vitamin E) this product should enable contact lens wearers to wear their lenses longer and with greater comfort.

Advanced Vision Research is committed to eye research and the development of major advances in the treatment of eye disease. Information on the company and its products may be obtained by contacting Advanced Vision Research at 781-932-8327, by fax at 781-935-5075, by e-mail at info@theratears.com or at www.theratears.com .

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