September 15, 2000 For Immediate Release

For Information Contact Cynthia Katz 831-372-4360 or Laura Calverley 201-947-4133

PRIO Introduces PRIO Kids!
The First Optometric Instrument Designed to Diagnose Computer Vision Problems in Children

(Beaverton, OREGON) PRIO Corporation, manufacturer of the only computer vision diagnostic instrument, announced today the introduction of PRIO KIDS!—the first diagnostic device designed for examining children with computer vision problems. PRIO KIDS! displays words and images that can be read more easily by computer users under the age of 10, allowing eye care physicians to more accurately prescribe computer eyeglasses. The new pediatric tester uses pictures, and phonetic and sight words that are age-appropriate. Doctors can also increase the word difficulty, allowing him/her to compare various ocular and reading responses at different grade levels.

"Millions of children use computers at home and at school every day," said Jon Torrey, President ↦ CEO of PRIO Corporation. "They are at risk of computer vision difficulties just as adults are at risk. For that reason, we were asked by our current PRIO Provider Network to develop a pediatric tester. We call it PRIO KIDS!"

Determining the best prescription for eyeglasses for children can be more challenging for an optometrist than examining an adult. According to Dr. Hoenig, children do not always give the best feedback regarding their vision comfort because they do not understand the difference between normal and abnormal visual experiences.

"The greatest advantage to the PRIO tester when examining children," said Dr. Hoenig, pediatric optometrist from Santa Rosa, CA, "is that we can obtain objective results that are independent of the child's ability to report clarity or speed of reporting. In addition, the (PRIO) target which is gaussian can be placed at any habitual reading or computer working distance. The examiner is able to keep her hands free to move the retinoscope and dial in the appropriate lens."

In 1997, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that half of all children had a computer at home, compared with 32 percent in 1993. Approximately 71 percent of children enrolled in school used a computer at school. Both children and adults are at risk for symptoms such as sore and dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches and fatigue from prolonged computer use. Many experts, however, believe that children may be more susceptible.

"Children may be at higher risk than adults, as we entice them into detailed, sedentary and prolonged close work activities at a premature age," said Dr. Pia Hoenig. "Children have more active focusing systems than adults. During binocular evaluations, we have learned over the past 15-plus years that children with near-vision complaints and symptoms associated with reading and learning activities have been found to have reduced 'accommodative facility.' I have found with my patients that computer-specific eyeglasses can make a very real difference."

According to the American Optometric Association, working at a computer can be visually demanding due to the eye movement, eye focusing and eye alignment processes which are involved. The effort required to keep the computer image consistently sharp and steady can stress the eye muscles, leading to fatigue and eyestrain. The condition is known as computer vision syndrome, or CVS. Computer eyeglasses, designed specifically for computer use, can alleviate the symptoms associated with CVS for adults and children.

Cornell University reported in a 1999 study that children may also be at risk for repetitive stress injuries because school computers are often set up incorrectly. Children strain to see the monitor or reach the keyboard, developing poor posture and putting stress on their backs, necks, hands and their eyes.

Before the advent of the PRIO technology, doctors had to rely upon a patient's subjective response to the standard Snellen test, or other similar test. PRIO KIDS! like PRIO's original tester, offers advantages for optometrists from ease of use to a more accurate prescription for computer glasses.

The PRIO KIDS! Tester will be field tested around the U.S. in the next two months. It will be available to the ophthalmic industry later this fall. For more information on PRIO KIDS! call 1- or visit the company's website at www.prio.com.

PRIO® is a registered trademark of PRIO Corporation.