Released: Wednesday 11th April 2012

LONDON, UK, 11 April 2012 – Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), a leading medical retinal imaging company, announces that Louisa Burdett will succeed Christine Soden as Chief Financial Officer when she steps down from this role on 31 May 2012.

Louisa joins Optos from the Financial Times Group, where she has been Chief Financial Officer since 2008. Prior to that and between 2007 and 2008, Louisa was Chief Financial Officer of Chep Europe, a £1.5 billion turnover division of Brambles Ltd, the Australian listed pallet distribution company.

Louisa also spent six years in the healthcare industry at GE Healthcare Ltd (formerly Amersham prior to 2004). From 2003 to 2007 she was Chief Financial Officer of GE’s $2 billion revenue Medical Diagnostics business and from 2001 to 2003 she was Finance Director, Global R&D of Amersham’s medical diagnostics business.

Before joining Amersham, Louisa spent five years with GlaxoSmithKline plc in a number of finance roles, including Finance Integration Director where she played a significant role in the integration of Glaxo and SmithKline. She has also worked as an M&A Consultant at Charterhouse Bank in London and spent four years at KPMG in London. Louisa has a first class degree in Biochemistry from Imperial College, London and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Louisa is set to replace Christine Soden, who steps down from the role of Chief Financial Officer following a decision to cut down on her travelling commitments. Christine will continue to work for Optos as a consultant to the business and to ensure an orderly handover of responsibilities.

Roy Davis, Chief Executive of Optos, said: “I am delighted to welcome Louisa to Optos. We look forward to benefiting from the experience she has gained in finance in major multinational healthcare firms. She adds a breadth of international expertise to help Optos continue its global expansion.”

“We would like to thank Christine for her hard work and her contribution to the transformation of Optos over the last few years. Optos is now in a significantly stronger position with much improved financial results and brighter prospects. We are delighted that Christine has agreed to remain with us, providing continued counsel and advice to the business as it grows to the next level.”

There are no further details to be disclosed in relation to paragraph 9.6.13R of the Financial Services Authority Listing Rules.
Enquiries:
Optos plc
Roy Davis, CEO Tel: 01383 843 300
FTI Consulting
Ben Atwell / Mo Noonan Tel: 020 7831 3113

Note to Editors: Images available upon request

About Optos Plc

Optos plc has the vision to be The retina company. We aim to be recognised as a leading provider of devices and solutions to eyecare professionals for improved patient care. Optos' core devices produce ultra widefield, high resolution digital images (optomaps®) of approximately 82% of the retina, something no other device is capable of doing in any one image. Our recent acquisition of OPKO instrumentation brings the group optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) diagnostic devices and optical ultrasound scanners, used in the diagnosis and management of eye disease and conditions.

Optos’ widefield retinal imaging technology, combined with the specific data that can be derived from OCT images, has the potential to offer ophthalmologists and optometrists the most powerful tools for disease diagnosis and management. The optomap images provide enhanced clinical information which facilitates the early detection, management and treatment of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina such as retinal detachments and tears, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as hypertension and certain cancers. OCT delivers an image that shows a three dimensional, cross-sectional view of the retina in any particular area, typically in the central pole area of the retina around the optic nerve and macula and is used to detect the presence of and understand the severity of disease, determine treatment approaches and monitor post-treatment effect.

Optos has a range of imaging devices that support different customer segments and patient levels: the P200 and 200Dx devices are concentrated on wellness screening carried out by optometrists and ophthalmologists in primary care; the P200C devices are designed to meet the need for more exacting clinical imaging capabilities and standards in secondary care within the ophthalmology market and at optometric practices that are clinically managing a patient base with advanced ocular disease; and the P200MA and 200Tx devices supports ophthalmologists and retinal specialists in the medical care market. Our expanded product range includes visual acuity, perimetry and treatment laser products

For more information please visit our website www.optos.com.
Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections about its industry, its beliefs and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.