Visx to Take a Charge in Second Quarter

Visx Inc., the No. 1 maker of lasers used to correct vision, said it will take a charge of about 12 cents a share against second-quarter earnings to settle antitrust and patent infringement lawsuits. The company said it paid about $12 million to settle antitrust claims made by eye-surgery and laser companies and a Texas physician who challenged the merits of one of Visx’s patents. Shares of Visx have fallen 71% in the last year. The shares closed off 94 cents at $16.81 on Nasdaq. Visx’s lasers are used for 65% to 70% of all U.S. laser procedures. Analysts and investors are worried that growth in the vision-correction market, which caused Visx shares to almost double last year, may be faltering.