Exhibit 99.1

             VISX CustomVue Hyperopia Procedure Approved by the FDA;
                   First U.S. Custom Wavefront LASIK Approval
                       for Farsightedness and Astigmatism

    SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2004--VISX,
Incorporated (NYSE:EYE) today announced that it has received approval
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hyperopia,
also known as farsightedness, and astigmatism with the VISX CustomVue
laser vision correction procedure.
    The CustomVue procedure is the first U.S. approved
wavefront-guided laser treatment for hyperopia. It employs the VISX
WaveScan System, a diagnostic system that captures a comprehensive
"fingerprint" of each eye and generates an individualized treatment
for each CustomVue procedure. As shown in a clinical study, CustomVue
has the potential to deliver better vision than contacts or glasses.
    Colman Kraff, M.D., principal investigator at the Kraff Eye
Institute, participated in the VISX multi-center clinical study. Dr.
Kraff stated, "VISX's new CustomVue Hyperopia procedure is a
significant step forward in the treatment of farsightedness. The
overall quality of vision with this new procedure is so superior that
I plan to treat all of my qualified patients with CustomVue
Hyperopia."
    The VISX clinical study results exceeded all of the FDA required
measurements for safety and effectiveness. A six-month evaluation of
clinical study participants showed that more than four times as many
people were very satisfied with their night vision after the VISX
CustomVue Hyperopia procedure, compared to their night vision before
with glasses or contacts.
    Liz Davila, VISX Chairman and CEO stated, "With this approval,
VISX now offers our U.S. doctors the broadest range of wavefront
guided treatments. We believe this further advancement of laser vision
correction technology will enhance our market leadership position,
drive CustomVue conversions, and increase future revenue and profit
opportunities."

    About the market for Laser Vision Correction:

    Laser vision correction is the most popular form of elective
surgery in the U.S. today, where over 3 million people have undergone
the procedure. According to industry research, there are 50 to 60
million people in the U.S. that are good candidates for laser vision
correction.

    About VISX:

    VISX is a worldwide market leader in the design, manufacture, and
sale of laser vision correction systems. Ophthalmologists have
performed over 6 million procedures worldwide using VISX Systems,
reducing or eliminating completely the need for contacts or glasses.
Additional information on VISX and VISX trained and certified
ophthalmologists can be found on the worldwide web at www.VISX.com.
    On November 9, 2004, VISX and Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
(NYSE:AVO) announced that they had entered into an agreement and plan
of merger.

    Additional Information and Where You Can Find It

    On December 6, 2004, AMO filed a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 with the SEC that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus of
VISX and AMO and other relevant materials in connection with the
proposed transaction. The joint proxy statement/prospectus will be
mailed to the stockholders of VISX and AMO. Investors and security
holders of VISX and AMO are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become
available because they will contain important information about VISX,
AMO and the proposed transaction. The joint proxy statement/prospectus
and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by VISX or
AMO with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site
at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain
free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by VISX by contacting
VISX Investor Relations at ir@visx.com or via telephone at (408)
773-7435. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the
documents filed with the SEC by AMO at www.amo-inc.com or via
telephone at (714) 247-8348. Investors and security holders are urged
to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant
materials when they become available before making any voting or
investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.
    VISX and AMO and their respective directors and executive officers
may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the stockholders of VISX and AMO in favor of the proposed transaction.
Information about the directors and executive officers of VISX and AMO
and their respective interests in the proposed transaction will be
available in the joint proxy statement/prospectus.

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions of VISX that
involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this
release, including statements about the quality of the CustomVue
Hyperopia procedure, including that CustomVue has the potential to
deliver better vision than contacts or glasses, and that CustomVue
Hyperopia will enhance our market leadership position, drive CustomVue
conversions, and increase future revenue and profit are based on
information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The
Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or
implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and
uncertainties associated with the Company's business, which include
the fact that market acceptance of our products, and particularly of
CustomVue, is uncertain and depends on broad acceptance by physicians
and patients, that intense competition in the laser vision correction
industry could result in the loss of customers, an inability to
attract new customers, or a decrease in prices for our products, that
we face risks due to our reliance on sales in international markets,
that we are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which
increases our costs and could prevent us from selling our products,
that the possibility of long-term side effects and adverse publicity
regarding laser correction surgery could seriously harm our business,
that we have and may become subject to product liability claims, that
adverse economic conditions may cause our revenues to decline, and
that expenses are relatively fixed in the short term and declines in
revenue would have an immediate impact on earnings per share. Further
information on risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including VISX's
Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
VISX Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Company
assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press
release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.

    Editors' Note: VISX, VISX CustomVue, CustomVue, VISX WaveScan, and
WaveScan are trademarks of VISX, Incorporated.

    CONTACT: VISX, Incorporated
             Jackie Cossmon, 408-773-7600 (Investors)
             ir@visx.com
                 or
             Dorland Public Relations
             Robert Doody, 215-928-2183 (Media)
             rdoody@dorland.com