CINCINNATI—In the latest development in the attempt by LCA-Vision (Nasdaq: LCAV) founder and former chairman Stephen Joffe to regain a management role with the refractive surgery firm, on Dec. 31 LCA-Vision’s board of directors passed amendments to the company’s bylaws that will prohibit any stockholder from springing a new slate of candidates for director or proposing new business at LCA-Vision’s annual meeting with no advance notice.

According to the revised bylaws, “a stockholder seeking to propose business or submit a director nomination at an annual meeting must provide notice to the company not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting.”

“The board of directors believes that it is in the best interests of stockholders that all stockholders be given advance notice of all matters intended to be raised at an annual meeting,” the company said in a filing this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A stockholder group headed by Joffe has been suggesting that a member of that group—which together owns 11.4 percent of LCA-Vision’s common stock—be given a spot on the company’s board as well as a management position with the refractive surgery firm.