ST.LOUIS—The wrangling between refractive-surgery firm TLC Vision (Nasdaq: TLCV) and Stephen Joffe, MD, founder of TLC Vision competitor LCA-Vision (Nasadaq: LCAV) continued late last week. Joffe criticized TLC Vision’s 2007 financial performance, blaming it on “laissez-faire oversight” and “patchwork fixes” by TLC Vision’s board of directors. He also criticized the board’s decision to accept changes in a credit facility that he said would “greatly increase the difficulty of turning around TLC’s business.”

Commenting on TLC’s 2007 financial report, released last week, Joffe described the financial results as “disappointing,” stating that the company’s 2007 performance “demonstrates yet again that there is a difference between talk and meaningful action.” He added, “This is a company that lacks leadership, lacks a plan, and lacks the requisite hands-on skills to create value. We intend to change that.”

Joffe is attempting to nominate himself and two others to the TLC Vision board. TLC Vision’s chairman, Warren Rustand, told Joffe in a letter last week that the company “will be considering all nominations for director,” in keeping with its normal practice.