CINCINNATI—Refractive surgery firm LCA-Vision (Nasdaq: LCAV) is currently evaluating the technology used at is LasikPlus vision centers, with an eye toward possibly reducing the number of excimer lasers used per center.

“Among initiatives aimed at supporting procedure volume and controlling costs, the company has begun both a head-to-head clinical study and has requested cost proposals to evaluate potentially reducing the number of excimer laser technology platforms utilized in its LasikPlus vision centers,” an LCA-Vision announcement said late last week.

“We expect that results from this study will confirm that technological advancements in laser vision correction equipment allow us to achieve our high standard of clinical outcomes regardless of the platform utilized in the procedure at a lower overall cost,” noted Steven Straus, the company’s chief executive officer. “Results from this study could enable a reduction in the number of technology platforms per LasikPlus vision center from our current three platforms to two or perhaps even one.”

Straus added, “During the first few weeks of our new marketing program, we are performing qualitative and quantitative reviews of our marketing activities as the first in an active and methodical progression to strengthen the LasikPlus brand and clarify our messages, with a goal of reinvigorating our direct-to-consumer programs.”

Also last week, LCA-Vision announced the appointment of Michael Celebrezze as chief financial officer on a permanent basis, effective Dec. 1. Celebrezze, LCA-Vision’s interim CFO since June, was appointed to the company’s executive management team as senior vice president of finance and treasurer in July 2007; he joined LCA-Vision a year earlier.