SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TearLab Corporation (Nasdaq:TEAR) (TSX:TLB) ("TearLab" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Richard Lee as the Company's EMEA Business Development Director. Mr. Lee will oversee sales, marketing, operations and customer service activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Mr. Lee has an accomplished history of medical device sales, marketing and retail success within the ophthalmic industry. Previous assignments included EMEA Sales Development Director and Commercial Director positions based in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Italy for Bausch + Lomb Vision Care. Most recently, before working as a consultant to help develop the market for the TearLab® Osmolarity System in the United Kingdom, Richard owned and operated a successful optical retail store in the south of England.
"We are very pleased to have attracted a business development leader of Richard's caliber to this key position. His extensive and demonstrable record of accomplishment in helping to commercialize new ophthalmic technologies in the EMEA markets will be a great asset for TearLab going forward," said Elias Vamvakas, TearLab's Chief Executive Officer.
About The TearLab® Osmolarity System
The TearLab® Osmolarity System uses a novel lab-on-a-chip approach that requires less than 50 nL (nanoliters) of tear fluid in order to measure tear Osmolarity. The TearLab® Osmolarity System eliminates the challenges that previously prevented point-of-care Osmolarity testing. The TearLab® Osmolarity System can produce a sample-to-answer result in less than 30 seconds.
About Dry Eye Disease
DED is a common condition in which the eye does not produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eye sufficiently lubricated. It affects approximately 40 million people in the U.S. and 100 million people worldwide. In its mild to moderate forms, it can impact vision and the ability to go about daily activities. In its more severe forms, DED can lead to permanent loss of vision.
About TearLab Corporation
TearLab Corporation (www.tearlab.com) develops and markets lab-on-a-chip technologies that enable eye care practitioners to improve standard of care by objectively and quantitatively testing for disease markers in tears at the point-of-care. The TearLab Osmolarity Test, for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease, is the first assay developed for the award-winning TearLab Osmolarity System. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, TearLab Corporation's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol 'TEAR' and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'TLB'.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about TearLab. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding future increases in the number of insurers covering the TearLab® Osmolarity test and the future commercial adoption of the TearLab™ Osmolarity System. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. Many factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including the factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to our annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.