ST. LOUIS--Refractive surgery firm TLC Vision (Nasdaq: TLCV) had a consolidated net loss of $43.5 million in its 2007 fiscal year, compared to net income of $11.5 million in FY 2006.

The 2007 loss included non-cash charges of $12.5 million related to the company’s investment in Occulogix, as well as $21 million in restructuring charges.

The company’s net revenues last year reached $298.4 million, up 7.4 percent. In 2007’s fourth quarter, TLC Vision’s net loss was $25.3 million, increased from a $2.4 million loss in the prior year’s Q4. The loss in 2007’s fourth quarter included non-cash charges of $6.6 million related to the company’s investment in Occulogix, plus $6.5 million in restructuring charges. Revenues in Q4 rose 5.7 percent to $36.3 million.

Jim Wachtman, TLC Vision’s president and chief executive officer, commented, “While we are concerned about the current trends in the overall consumer economy, we remain encouraged about TLC’s market position and strategy and believe that the steps we have taken throughout 2007 will continue to drive increased market penetration and above-average industry growth going forward.”

Added Wachtman, “During 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, we not only successfully repositioned 54 of our centers to our new refractive strategy, we also significantly increased consumer awareness of the TLC brand in the marketplace.” He said the company anticipates that same-store procedure volume will show absolute growth well in excess of industry levels in Q1, and that revenues in that period will be approximately $89 million.

A company announcement noted that TLC Vision completed the sale of its interest in the Oxford Eye Surgery Center, Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 31. Combined with the sale of its Midland, Texas, ambulatory surgery center--sold in the third quarter--and the recently announced sale of its interest in the Rockland Surgery Center in Wilmington, Del., the number of stand-alone ambulatory surgery centers in the company’s portfolio has been reduced to five.