Summit Autonomous

21 Hickory Drive
Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

(781) 890-1234

For Immediate Release

         SUMMIT AUTONOMOUS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO SELL LENS EXPRESS UNIT

Waltham, MA, May 4, 2000- Summit Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: BEAM) announced today
that the  Company  has  entered  into a  definitive  agreement  to sell its Lens
Express business unit to Strategic Optical Holdings,  Inc. for $31 million cash,
plus a minority equity  interest in the acquiror.  The transaction is subject to
customary closing conditions.

"We are pleased to have entered into a  definitive  purchase and sale  agreement
for Lens Express,"  commented  Robert J. Palmisano,  Chief Executive  Officer of
Summit  Autonomous.  "I have stated  previously  that Lens  Express is no longer
strategic  to our  goal of  becoming  the  leading  developer  and  marketer  of
differentiated  ophthalmic  products and services for  refractive  surgeons.  By
divesting the Company of the Lens Express business unit, we can better focus our
efforts on growing  market  share and widening  the  technological  lead we have
established  with  the  LADARVision(R)   laser  system--the  only  system  which
incorporates  FDA  approved  laser  radar eye  tracking,"  Palmisano  continued.
"Finally,  I would like to  acknowledge  everyone at Lens Express for their many
contributions to the Company," concluded Mr. Palmisano.

Founded in 1985,  Summit  Autonomous is a leading  developer,  manufacturer  and
marketer of ophthalmic  laser systems and related  products  designed to correct
common vision disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
In 1995,  Summit  Autonomous  was the first excimer laser company to receive FDA
approval  for its excimer  laser system for the  correction  of mild to moderate
myopia  in the U.S.  and in 1999  became  the  first  commercial  excimer  laser
manufacturer   to  receive  FDA  approval  for  the  popular  LASIK   procedure.
Autonomous, a wholly owned subsidiary,  is engaged in the design and development
of next-generation  excimer laser instruments for laser refractive surgery.  The
Company's  LADARVision(R)  system  combines laser radar eye tracking with narrow
beam shaping technology and is the only FDA approved laser system to incorporate
an eye-tracker during surgery. In addition, through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Lens Express, Summit Autonomous sells contact lenses and related products.

Cautionary  Statement under "Safe harbor"  Provisions of the Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995:  Statements  made in this news  release  contain
information about the Company's future business prospects.  These statements may
be  considered  "forward  looking".  These  statements  are subject to risks and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
set forth in or implied by such forward  looking  statements.  Among these risks
and  uncertainties  are:   competition  from  other   manufacturers  and  vision
correction technologies, delays in obtaining regulatory approvals, challenges to
patents  owned and licensed by the Company  affecting  per  procedure  revenues,
adverse  litigation  results,  difficulties in  commercializing  the LADARVision
system and dependence on sole source suppliers.

For additional  information  and risks  associated  with the Company's  business
prospects and future operating results,  please refer to Summit's public filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information contact:

Kate Sturgis Burnham

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Summit Autonomous

(781) 672-0517
877-BEAM-333
kate.burnham@summitautonomous.com