CINCINNATI -- Laser eye surgery provider LCA-Vision Inc. said Tuesday that LasikPlus procedures decreased 8 percent in the third quarter, and the company said coverage of the upcoming presidential election is partly to blame.
LCA-Vision reported 11,510 LasikPlus procedures in the third quarter, down from 12,444 a year ago. Procedures had improved for each of the previous four quarters.
The company said procedures decreased because of "factors specific to our direct-to-consumer marketing model" and because of the election. LCA-Vision said consumers were more cautious during the third quarter because of negative press coverage of the economy in response to the campaign.
Shares of LCA-Vision lost 31 cents, or 7.5 percent, to $3.81 in afternoon trading. The company will report its full quarterly results before the market opens on Oct. 30.