XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS INC
DEF 14A, 1997-04-24
SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential,  for  Use  of the  Commission  Only  (as  permitted
     by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive  Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12


                          XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                 Not Applicable
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)



Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]   No fee required.
[ ]   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14(a)-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
      1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
          the filing fee is calculated and state how it was  determined):
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      5)  Total Fee Paid:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the  offsetting  fee
     was paid  previously.  Identify  the  previous filing by registration
     statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1)  Amount Previously Paid:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     3)  Filing Party:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     4)  Date Filed
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<PAGE>




                          XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

                              --------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                              --------------------

                                  MAY 28, 1997

                              --------------------

To the Stockholders of
  XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.



         The annual  meeting of  stockholders  (the  "Annual  Meeting") of Xomed
Surgical Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at
the offices of the Company, 6743 Southpoint Drive North,  Jacksonville,  Florida
32216 on  Wednesday,  May 28, 1997,  at 3:30 P.M.,  Jacksonville  time,  for the
following purposes:


                   1.  To  elect  seven  Directors  to the  Company's  Board  of
                       Directors;

                   2.  To approve  amendments to the Company's Stock Option Plan
                       to, among other things,  increase the number of shares of
                       the  Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share,
                       reserved for issuance thereunder by 300,000 shares;

                   3.  To ratify the  appointment  by the Board of  Directors of
                       Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the Company
                       for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997; and

                   4.  To act upon such  other  business  as may  properly  come
                       before  the  Annual   Meeting  or  any   adjournment   or
                       postponement thereof.

         The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of  business  on April 15,
1997,  as the record  date for the  determination  of  stockholders  entitled to
receive  notice of and to vote at the  Annual  Meeting  and any  adjournment  or
postponement thereof.

                                             By order of the Board of Directors,

                                             /s/ Thomas E. Timbie

                                             Thomas E. Timbie
                                             Secretary

April 24, 1997




         Your vote is important.  Whether or not you expect to be present at the
Annual  Meeting,  please date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it promptly
in the  enclosed  envelope.  You may revoke  your proxy at any time before it is
voted at the Annual Meeting. In the event you attend the Annual Meeting and vote
in person, the proxy will not be used.



<PAGE>



                          XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                           6743 Southpoint Drive North
                           Jacksonville, Florida 32216

                                     -----

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                                     -----


         This Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") is furnished in connection
with the  solicitation  of  proxies  by the Board of  Directors  (the  "Board of
Directors")  of Xomed  Surgical  Products,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  to be voted at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to
be held on  Wednesday,  May 28, 1997,  at 3:30 P.M.,  Jacksonville  time, at the
offices of the  Company,  6743  Southpoint  Drive North,  Jacksonville,  Florida
32216, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Annual Meeting").  A
copy of the Company's  Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996,  this Proxy  Statement  and the  accompanying  proxy card are
first being sent or given to stockholders on or about April 24, 1997.

         Properly executed proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting,  unless
revoked, will be voted in accordance with the specified instructions.  Regarding
the  election of  Directors,  stockholders  may vote in favor of all nominees or
withhold  their votes as to all nominees or withhold  their votes as to specific
nominees. With respect to all other proposals to be voted upon, stockholders may
vote in favor of a  proposal,  against a proposal or may  abstain  from  voting.
Stockholders  should  specify  their  choices on the enclosed  proxy card. If no
instructions are given with respect to the matters to be acted upon, the persons
named in the proxy  solicited by the Board of  Directors  intend to vote FOR the
election of the Directors  listed below,  FOR approval of the  amendments to the
Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") and FOR  ratification
of the appointment by the Board of Directors of Ernst & Young LLP as independent
auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending  December  31, 1997.  If any
other matter  should be  presented  at the Annual  Meeting upon which a vote may
properly  be taken,  the  shares  represented  by the proxy  will be voted  with
respect thereto by the person or persons holding such proxy as in their judgment
is in the best  interests  of the  Company  and its  stockholders.  The Board of
Directors  does not know of any matters other than as described in the Notice of
Annual Meeting that are to come before the Annual Meeting.

         Stockholders  may vote by either  completing and returning the enclosed
proxy card prior to the Annual  Meeting,  voting in person at the Annual Meeting
or  submitting  a signed  proxy card at the  Annual  Meeting.  Stockholders  who
execute  proxies may revoke them at any time before they are voted at the Annual
Meeting by written  notice to the Secretary of the Company,  by submitting a new
proxy or by personal ballot at the Annual Meeting.

         The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of  business  on April 15,
1997 as the  Record  Date  (the  "Record  Date")  for  determining  stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

         As of the Record  Date,  the  Company  had  7,333,899  shares of Common
Stock,  par value $.01 per share ("Common  Stock"),  outstanding and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting.  The Common Stock is the only  outstanding  class of
voting  securities of the Company.  Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for
each share of Common Stock owned at the close of business on the Record Date.

         The  presence  in person or by proxy of the  holders of a  majority  of
outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock is  necessary  to  constitute  a quorum in
connection  with  the  transaction  of  business  at  the  Annual  Meeting.  The
affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Common Stock present in person or by
proxy and  entitled to vote at the Annual  Meeting is required  for  election of
Directors,  approval of the amendments to the Stock Option Plan and ratification
of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the Company.
Broker "non-votes" (i.e.,  proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that such
persons  have  not  received  instructions  from the  beneficial  owner or other
persons entitled to vote shares as to a matter with respect to which the



<PAGE>


brokers  or  nominees  do not have  discretionary  power to vote) and shares for
which duly executed proxies have been received but with respect to which holders
of shares have  abstained from voting will be treated as present for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting.  Broker  "non-votes"
are only  counted for purposes of  determining  whether a quorum is present and,
therefore,  will not be  included  in vote totals and will have no effect on the
outcome of the votes on the  proposals  to be acted upon at the Annual  Meeting.
Abstentions  will be counted as present and entitled to vote,  and will have the
effect of a negative  vote with respect to the proposals to be acted upon at the
Annual Meeting.

                                  PROPOSAL ONE

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of Directors, pursuant to the Company's Restated By-Laws, has
set the  number  of  Directors  of the  Company  at  seven.  Accordingly,  seven
Directors are to be elected at the Annual  Meeting to hold office until the next
annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected
and  qualified.  If a proxy  is  executed  in such a manner  as not to  withhold
authority for the election of any or all of the nominees for Directors, then the
persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy for the
election of the seven nominees set forth below.  If the proxy indicates that the
stockholder  wishes to withhold a vote from one or more nominees for  Directors,
such  instructions  will be followed by the persons named in the proxy.  Each of
the nominees set forth below has  consented to serve as a Director if elected at
the Annual  Meeting.  All of the nominees are currently  members of the Board of
Directors.

         Should any one or more of these nominees become unable to serve for any
reason,  which is not anticipated,  the Board of Directors may, unless the Board
of Directors by resolution provides for a lesser number of Directors,  designate
substitute nominees, in which event the persons named in the enclosed proxy card
will vote for the election of such substitute nominee or nominees.

Nominees for Election as Directors

         The respective ages,  positions with the Company,  business  experience
during the past five years and  directorships in other companies of the nominees
for election as Directors of the Company are set forth below.

         James T. Treace,  51, has been President,  Chief Executive  Officer and
Chairman of the Board of  Directors of the Company  since April 1996.  From 1993
until its  acquisition  by the  Company  in April  1996,  Mr.  Treace  served as
President,  Chairman of the Board of Directors  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
TreBay Medical  Corporation  ("TreBay"),  an ENT and orthopaedic product company
founded  in 1993 by Mr.  Treace and Mr. F. Barry  Bays.  From 1990 to 1993,  Mr.
Treace  served as President of Linvatec  Corporation  ("Linvatec"),  a minimally
invasive  orthopaedic  medical  device company  formerly known as Concept,  Inc.
("Concept"),  which became a wholly owned  subsidiary  of  Bristol-Myers  Squibb
Company  ("Bristol-Myers  Squibb") in 1990.  Mr.  Treace served as President and
Chief  Executive   Officer  of  Concept  from  1981  until  its  acquisition  by
Bristol-Myers  Squibb in 1990.  Mr.  Treace is the brother of John R. Treace and
Dan H. Treace, who are executive officers of the Company.

         Richard B.  Emmitt,  52, has served as a Director of the Company  since
April 1994 and from December 1990 to 1994 was a Director of Merocel  Corporation
("Merocel"),  which became a subsidiary  of the Company in 1994.  Mr. Emmitt has
been a Managing Director of The Vertical Group,  Inc., an investment firm, since
February 1989.

         Paul H. Klingenstein, 41, has served as a Director of the Company since
April 1994. Mr.  Klingenstein  has been with Accel  Partners,  a venture capital
firm,  since  1986,  where  he has  been  a  General  Partner  since  1988.  Mr.
Klingenstein is a Director of Aviron. He is also a Director of several privately
held health care and biopharmaceutical companies.


                                       2
<PAGE>


         William R.  Miller,  68, has served as a Director of the Company  since
April 1994 and from 1991 to 1994 was a Director of Merocel. In January 1991, Mr.
Miller  retired as Vice  Chairman  of the Board of  Directors  of  Bristol-Myers
Squibb.  From 1985 to January 1991,  Mr. Miller was a Director of  Bristol-Myers
Squibb. Mr. Miller is a Director of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., ImClone Systems,
Inc.,  St. Jude  Medical,  Inc.,  Transkaryotic  Therapies,  Inc.  and  Westvaco
Corporation. He is Chairman of the Board of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and SIBIA
Neurosciences,  Inc.  He is Vice  Chairman  of the Board of Trustees of the Cold
Spring  Harbor   Laboratory  and  is  a  past  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  the
Pharmaceutical  Manufacturers Association.  Mr. Miller is also: a Trustee of the
Manhattan  School of Music,  the  Metropolitan  Opera  Association and the Opera
Orchestra  of New  York;  Member  of  Oxford  University  Chancellor's  Court of
Benefactors;   Honorary   Fellow  of  St.  Edmund  Hall;  and  Chairman  of  the
English-Speaking Union of the United States.

         Rodman W.  Moorhead,  III,  53, has served as a Director of the Company
since 1994 and was a Director of Merocel from 1990 to 1994.  Since 1973,  he has
been with E.M.  Warburg,  Pincus & Co., LLC or its  predecessor  ("EMW LLC"),  a
private  investment  firm,  where  he  currently  serves  as a  Senior  Managing
Director.  Mr.  Moorhead  is also a Director of NeXstar  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.,
Value Health, Inc., Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. and a number of privately held
companies.

         James E.  Thomas,  36, has served as a Director  of the  Company  since
April 1994. Since 1989, he has been with EMW LLC, where he currently serves as a
Managing  Director.  Mr.  Thomas is also a Director  of Anergen,  Inc.,  Celtrix
Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,  Menley  &  James  Laboratories,   Inc.,  Transkaryotic
Therapies, Inc. and several privately held companies.

         Elizabeth  H.  Weatherman,  37, has served as a Director of the Company
since April 1994 and was a Director of Merocel  from  December  1990 until 1994.
Since 1988, she has been with EMW LLC, where she currently  serves as a Managing
Director.  Ms. Weatherman is also a Director of VitalCom Inc.,  Uroquest Medical
Corporation and several privately held health care companies.

         THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

Executive Officers

         In addition to Mr.  Treace,  the  following  persons serve as executive
officers of the Company:  F. Barry Bays,  Thomas E. Timbie,  John R. Treace,  R.
Glen Coleman,  Guy K. Williamson,  Fred B. Dinger,  III, Dan H. Treace,  Mark J.
Fletcher  and Gerard J.  Bussell.  Their  respective  ages,  positions  with the
Company and business  experience during the past five years are set forth below.
The  Company's  executive  officers  serve  at  the  pleasure  of the  Board  of
Directors.

         F. Barry Bays, 50, has been Senior Vice President, Operations and Chief
Operating  Officer of the Company since April 1996. From 1993 to April 1996, Mr.
Bays  served as Vice  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer and a Director of
TreBay. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Bays served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating  Officer of Linvatec.  From 1981 to 1990, Mr. Bays served as Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Concept.

         Thomas E.  Timbie,  39,  has been  Vice  President,  Finance  and Chief
Financial  Officer of the Company since April 1996. From 1994 to April 1996, Mr.
Timbie served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TreBay. From 1990
to 1994, Mr. Timbie held financial management  positions at Linvatec,  including
Senior Director, Working Capital from 1992 to 1994 and Assistant Controller from
1990 to 1992.  From  1987 to 1990,  Mr.  Timbie  served as  Director,  Financial
Accounting and Reporting of Concept.

         John R. Treace, 52, has been Vice President,  U.S. Sales of the Company
since April 1996.  From 1995 to April 1996, Mr. Treace served as Vice President,
Sales and Marketing of TreBay. Prior to joining TreBay,


                                        3
<PAGE>


         Mr.  Treace  served in a  variety  of  positions  at  Richards  Medical
Company.  His positions at Richards  Medical Company  included  Product Manager,
Director of Marketing and Sales, Group Vice President of Marketing and Sales and
Sales  Distributor.  Mr.  Treace is the  brother  of James T.  Treace and Dan H.
Treace.

         R. Glen Coleman, 42, has been Vice President,  Marketing of the Company
since August 1996.  From January 1983 to August 1996,  Mr.  Coleman held several
management  positions at Linvatec,  including Vice President,  Global  Marketing
from June 1996 to July 1996,  Vice  President,  Sales from  October 1993 to June
1996, Vice President and General  Manager of its Concept  Division from May 1991
to October 1993 and Vice President, Research and Development.

         Guy K.  Williamson,  42, has been Vice President,  International of the
Company and President,  Xomed International,  Inc. since July 1996. From January
1988  to  June  1996,  Mr.   Williamson  held  various   positions   within  the
Bristol-Myers  Squibb Medical Device Group,  including  Vice  President,  Zimmer
International  from January 1994 to June 1996,  General Manager,  China and Hong
Kong from  February  1992 to December  1993 and Vice  President,  Marketing  and
International Administration, Linvatec from January 1988 to January 1992.

         Fred B.  Dinger,  III,  35,  has  been  Vice  President,  Research  and
Development  of the Company since May 1996.  From 1992 to 1996,  Mr. Dinger held
several  positions  with  Linvatec,  including  Vice  President,   Research  and
Development from 1994 to 1996,  Director,  New Product  Development from 1993 to
1994 and Manager,  Power  Systems  Development  from 1992 to 1993.  From 1984 to
1992, Mr. Dinger was Engineering Section Supervisor at Honeywell Incorporated.

         Dan H.  Treace,  48, has been Vice  President,  Regulatory  Affairs and
Quality  Assurance of the Company since May 1996.  From 1994 to April 1996,  Mr.
Treace  served as Vice  President  and Quality  Manager of TreBay.  From 1989 to
1994, Mr. Treace served as Vice President,  Technical  Affairs of  Xomed-Treace,
Inc.  ("Xomed-Treace")  which was acquired by the Company in 1994.  From 1982 to
1989,  Mr. Treace was President of Treace  Medical,  Inc., a  microsurgical  ENT
medical  device  company  that he  founded  in 1982  and that  was  acquired  by
Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1989 and merged with the business of Xomed, Inc. to form
Xomed-Treace,  Inc.  Mr.  Treace is the  brother of James T.  Treace and John R.
Treace.

         Mark J.  Fletcher,  40,  has been Vice  President  of the  Company  and
President of Ophthalmic  Products since July 1996. From April 1996 to July 1996,
Mr. Fletcher served as Vice  President,  U.S.  Marketing of the Company and from
1994 to April 1996,  he served as Vice  President,  Sales and  Marketing  of the
Company.  From  1988 to  1994,  Mr.  Fletcher  held  several  senior  management
positions  with  Stryker  Corporation,   a  medical  device  company,  including
Executive Vice President,  Sales and Marketing from 1993 to 1994, Vice President
and General  Manager,  Stryker  Medical,  the Netherlands from 1992 to 1993, and
Vice President, Sales, Medical Division from 1990 to 1992.

         Gerard J.  Bussell,  48, has been Vice  President of  Operations of the
Company  since  March  1996  and  from  1993  to  March  1996  was  Director  of
Manufacturing  Operations and Director of Manufacturing of the Company. Prior to
joining the Company,  Mr.  Bussell  served in senior  management  positions with
Allergan,  Inc., an ophthalmic  products  company,  including  Senior  Director,
Worldwide Materials, and Managing Director.

         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         The  following  table  sets  forth,  as of March 12,  1997  (except  as
otherwise  noted),  certain  information  regarding the beneficial  ownership of
Common Stock by (i) each Director of the Company,  (ii) each person who is known
to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock,  (iii) each
executive officer named in the Summary  Compensation  Table and (iv) all current
executive  officers and Directors of the Company as a group. Such information is
based, in part, upon information provided by such persons.


                                       4
<PAGE>

                                                         Beneficial Ownership
                                                   -----------------------------
Name                                                Number (1)          Percent
- ----                                               ------------        ---------

Warburg, Pincus Investors, L.P. (2)                  3,296,393           44.9%
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York  10017

Kingdon Capital Management Corporation (3)             400,000            5.5
152 West 57th Street
New York, New York  10019

Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated (4)                   384,400            5.2
One South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois  60606

James T. Treace (5)                                    169,517            2.3
F. Barry Bays (6)                                      101,883            1.4
Mark J. Fletcher (7)                                    12,500             *
John R. Treace (8)                                      16,477             *
Gerard J. Bussell (9)                                    3,000             *
Richard B. Emmitt (10)                                 274,709            3.7
Paul H. Klingenstein (11)                              306,236            4.2
William R. Miller                                        5,500             *
Rodman W. Moorhead, III (12)                         3,296,393           44.9
James E. Thomas (12)                                 3,296,393           44.9
Elizabeth H. Weatherman (12)                         3,296,393           44.9
Mark K. Adams (13)                                          --             --
All current Directors and Executive Officers
         as a group (16 persons) (14)                4,221,543           56.9

- --------------------------
*        Less than 1%.

(1)      Except as  otherwise  indicated,  the  persons  in this table have sole
         voting and investment  power with respect to all shares of Common Stock
         shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws
         where  applicable  and  subject  to the  information  contained  in the
         footnotes to this table. Amounts shown for each stockholder include all
         shares of Common Stock subject to stock options  exercisable  within 60
         days of March 12, 1997. Shares not outstanding but deemed  beneficially
         owned by  virtue  of the  right of a person  or group to  acquire  them
         within  60 days  are  treated  as  outstanding  only  for  purposes  of
         determining the number of and percent owned by such person or group.

(2)      The sole general partner of Warburg, Pincus Investors, L.P. ("Warburg")
         is Warburg,  Pincus & Co., a New York general  partnership  ("WP"). EMW
         LLC, a New York limited liability company, manages Warburg. The members
         of EMW LLC are  substantially the same as the partners of WP. Lionel I.
         Pincus is the managing partner of WP and the managing member of EMW LLC
         and may be  deemed  to  control  both WP and EMW LLC.  WP,  as the sole
         general  partner  of  Warburg,  has a 20%  interest  in the  profits of
         Warburg.  Messrs.  Moorhead  and Thomas and Ms.  Weatherman  are each a
         Director of the Company,  a Managing Director and member of EMW LLC and
         a general partner of WP. As such,  Messrs.  Moorhead and Thomas and Ms.
         Weatherman may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest


                                       5
<PAGE>


         (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934 (the "Exchange  Act")) in an  indeterminate  portion of the shares
         beneficially owned by Warburg and WP. See Note 12 below.

(3)      As reflected as  beneficially  owned at January 21, 1997 in a Statement
         on Schedule 13D under the Exchange  Act filed with the  Securities  and
         Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on January 21, 1997.

(4)      As reflected as beneficially  owned at December 31, 1996 in a Statement
         on Schedule  13G under the  Exchange Act filed with the SEC on February
         12, 1997.

(5)      Includes  20,416 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired  pursuant
         to stock  options  exercisable  within 60 days of March 12,  1997.  Mr.
         Treace has pledged  101,460 shares of Common Stock to Warburg to secure
         repayment of a loan used to purchase such shares. As of March 12, 1997,
         a principal  balance of $1,142,000 was outstanding  under the loan. The
         loan bears  interest  at an annual  rate of 7% and matures on April 16,
         2001.

(6)      Includes  15,916 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired  pursuant
         to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 1997. Mr. Bays
         has  pledged  58,414  shares  of  Common  Stock to  Warburg  to  secure
         repayment of a loan used to purchase such shares. As of March 12, 1997,
         a principal  balance of $586,000 was  outstanding  under the loan.  The
         loan bears  interest  at an annual  rate of 7% and matures on April 16,
         2001.

(7)      Includes  12,500 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired  pursuant
         to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 1997.

(8)      Includes 8,500 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired pursuant to
         stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 1997.

(9)      Shares of Common Stock which may be acquired  pursuant to stock options
         exercisable within 60 days of March 12, 1997.

(10)     As of January 31, 1997, (i) Vertical Fund Associates,  L.P.  ("Vertical
         Fund") is the direct  owner of 222,709  shares of Common Stock and (ii)
         Vertical Life Sciences,  L.P.  ("Vertical Life") is the direct owner of
         52,000  shares of Common  Stock.  The sole  general  partner of each of
         Vertical Fund and Vertical Life is The Vertical Group, L.P. ("VG"). Mr.
         Emmitt, a Director of the Company, is a general partner of VG. As such,
         Mr. Emmitt may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest (within
         the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange  Act) in an  indeterminate
         portion of the  securities  of the  Company  beneficially  owned by VG,
         Vertical  Fund and  Vertical  Life.  Mr.  Emmitt  disclaims  beneficial
         ownership  of these  securities  within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
         the  Exchange  Act,  except  to the  extent of his  indirect  pecuniary
         interest.

(11)     Includes only shares held by Accel IV L.P.,  Accel Keiretsu L.P., Accel
         Investors '94 L.P. and Prosper  Partners  (collectively,  the "Funds").
         Mr.  Klingenstein  is a (i) general  partner of the general  partner of
         Accel IV L.P.; (ii) an officer of the general partner of Accel Keiretsu
         L.P.;  (iii) a general  partner of Accel  Investors '94 L.P.;  and (iv)
         attorney-in-fact for Prosper Partners. As such, Mr. Klingenstein may be
         deemed to have an indirect  pecuniary  interest  (within the meaning of
         Rule  16a-1 of the  Exchange  Act) in an  indeterminate  portion of the
         shares  beneficially  held by the  Funds.  Mr.  Klingenstein  disclaims
         beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Funds.

(12)     All of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  indicated  as owned  by  Messrs.
         Moorhead and Thomas and Ms.  Weatherman  are owned  directly by Warburg
         and are  included  because  of Messrs.  Moorhead  and  Thomas'  and Ms.
         Weatherman's   affiliation  with  Warburg.  Messrs.  Moorhead  and  Ms.
         Weatherman disclaim  "beneficial  ownership" of these shares within the
         meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange  Act,  except to the extent of
         their indirect pecuniary interest. See Note 1.


                                       6
<PAGE>


(13)     Mr.  Adams' last day of  employment  with the Company was May 20, 1996.
         Based solely upon review of the Company's stockholders of record.

(14)     Includes an  aggregate  of 82,582  shares of Common  Stock which may be
         acquired within 60 days of March 12, 1997.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         The following table sets forth  information  for the periods  indicated
concerning  compensation of (i) the Company's current and former Chief Executive
Officers and (ii) the four other most highly  compensated  individuals  who were
serving as  executive  officers  at the end of fiscal  1996  (collectively,  the
"Named Executive Officers").

                           Summary Compensation Table



                                                             Long-term
                                                            Compensation
                                    Annual Compensation       (Awards)
                               -----------------------------------------
                                                     Other   Securities  All
                                                     Annual  Underlying Other
Name and                                             Compen-   Options Compen-
Principal Position       Year  Salary($)  Bonus($)   sation($)   (#)   sation($)
- ------------------       ----  ---------  --------   --------- ------- ---------

James T. Treace (1)      1996  $153,039    $27,600         (2) 77,333  $2,300(3)
 President, Chief        1995        --         --         --      --         --
 Executive Officer and
 Chairman of the
 Board of Directors

Mark K. Adams            1996    79,950         --  $16,074(4) 20,000 505,277(5)
 President and Chief     1995   200,525     58,890   37,104(6)     --   2,345(3)
 Executive Officer (7)

Mark J. Fletcher         1996   149,615     38,502          -- 10,000   2,671(3)
 Vice President, Solan   1995   140,000      4,200   17,224(8)     --         --
 Ophthalmic Products

F. Barry Bays (9)        1996   116,442     21,000  22,094(10) 52,833   1,519(3)
 Senior Vice President   1995        --         --          --     --         --
 and Chief Operating
 Officer

John R. Treace (11)      1996    94,039     18,360  18,539(12) 30,000         --
 Vice President, U.S.    1995        --         --          --     --         --
 Sales

Gerard J. Bussell        1996   107,614      7,740          --  6,000   2,428(3)
 Vice President,         1995    94,289     13,759          --     --   2,074(3)
 Operations

- ---------------

(1)      Mr. Treace has been President,  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
         the Board of Directors of the Company since April 1996.

(2)      Other annual compensation in the form of perquisites and other personal
         benefits  has  been  omitted  because  the  aggregate  amount  of  such
         perquisites  and other  personal  benefits  was less than  $50,000  and
         constituted  less than 10% of the  executive's  total annual salary and
         bonus.


                                       7
<PAGE>


(3)      Represents  a matching  contribution  by the  Company to the  Company's
         401(k) Plan for the benefit of the executive.

(4)      Represents  $12,500 paid to Mr. Adams as a housing allowance and $3,574
         paid to Mr. Adams as a car allowance.

(5)      Represents $504,076 in payments pursuant to a separation agreement with
         Mr. Adams and a matching  contribution of $1,201 made by the Company to
         the  Company's   401(k)  Plan  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Adams.   See
         "Employment Agreements and Severance Agreement."

(6)      Represents  $30,000 paid to Mr. Adams as a housing allowance and $7,104
         paid to Mr. Adams as a car allowance.

(7)      Mr. Adams' last day of employment with the Company was May 20, 1996.

(8)      Represents a reimbursement of Mr. Fletcher's moving expenses.

(9)      Mr. Bays has been Senior Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating
         Officer of the Company since April 1996.

(10)     Represents  reimbursement  of  relocation  expenses  of $15,900 and car
         allowance payments of $6,194.

(11)     Mr.  Treace has been Vice  President,  U.S.  Sales of the Company since
         April 1996.

(12)     Represents reimbursement of relocation expenses.

         The following  table  summarizes  the number of shares and the terms of
stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers in 1996:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             Option Grants During Year Ended December 31, 1996

                                                                               Potential Realizable
                                                                                 Value at Assumed
                   Number of  % of Total                                      Annual Rates of Stock
                  Securities    Options                                       Price Appreciation for
                  Underlying  Granted to                                       Option Term($)(1)(2)
                   Options   Employees in   Exercise Price   Expiration  ---------------------------
     Name         Granted(#)  Fiscal Year      ($/Share)        Date           5%              10%
- ---------------   ----------  -----------   --------------  -----------  -----------      ----------
<S>              <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>               <C>

James T. Treace     4,333        1.0%           $  9.36     12/15/04     $   93,840       $  154,532

                   73,000       17.3              10.65      4/16/01      1,178,658        1,692,213

Mark K. Adams      20,000        4.7               9.58      1/01/01        344,320          485,020

Mark J. Fletcher   10,000        2.4               9.58      1/01/01        172,160          242,510

F. Barry Bays      10,833        2.6               9.36     12/15/04        234,610          386,348

                   42,000       10.0              10.65      4/16/01        678,132          973,602

John R. Treace      6,500        1.5               9.36     12/15/04        140,771          231,816

                    8,000        1.9              10.65      4/16/01        129,168          185,448

                   15,500        3.7           10.65(3)      6/14/01        250,263          359,306

Gerard J. Bussell   6,000        1.4               9.58      1/01/01        103,296          145,506

</TABLE>

(1)      All options vest  annually in 25%  increments,  commencing on the first
         anniversary of the date of grant.

(2)      The potential  realizable  value is calculated based on the term of the
         option  at its time of grant and is  calculated  by  assuming  that the
         stock price on the date of grant  appreciates  at the indicated  annual
         rate compounded annually for the entire term of the option and that the
         option  is  exercised  and  sold on the  last  day of its  term for the
         appreciated  price. At the time the options were granted,  there was no
         public


                                        8
<PAGE>


         trading  market  for the  Common  Stock.  In  order  to  calculate  the
         potential   realizable   value  at  assumed   annual   rates  of  stock
         appreciation  for the option term, the initial public offering price of
         $21.00 per share was used. The 5% and 10% assumed rates of appreciation
         are  derived  from  the  rules  of the  SEC  and do not  represent  the
         Company's  estimate or  projection  of the future  market  price of the
         Common Stock.

(3)      The Company has determined for accounting purposes that the fair market
         value of the  Common  Stock on the date of grant,  June 14,  1996,  was
         $13.15 per share. Accordingly, the potential realizable value, assuming
         0% appreciation, would be $38,750.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                 Aggregated 1996 Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values


                                                                   Number of Securities            Value of Unexercised
                                                                  Underlying Options at          In-the-Money Options at
                               Shares                              December 31, 1996(#)          December 31, 1996($)(1)
                            Acquired on                        ----------------------------    ---------------------------
           Name             Exercise (#)  Value Realized($)    Exercisable    Unexercisable    Exercisable   Unexercisable
- ------------------------    ------------  -----------------    -----------    -------------    -----------   -------------
<S>                            <C>              <C>            <C>               <C>          <C>             <C>

James T. Treace                  --               --               2,166           75,167       $ 23,046        $705,607

Mark K. Adams                    --               --              60,000               --        625,200              --

Mark J. Fletcher                 --               --              10,000           20,000        104,200         208,400

F. Barry Bays                    --               --               5,416           47,417         57,626         450,337

John R. Treace                   --               --               6,500           23,500         69,160         219,725

Gerard J. Bussell                --               --               1,000            7,000         10,420          72,940
- ----------------
</TABLE>


(1)      Based on a value of $20.00 per share,  the closing price for the Common
         Stock on December 31, 1996.

Employment Agreements and Severance Agreement

         In connection  with its April 1996  acquisition of TreBay,  the Company
executed  employment  agreements  with James T.  Treace and F. Barry  Bays.  The
Company  agreed to employ  Mr.  Treace as  President,  Chairman  of the Board of
Directors  and Chief  Executive  Officer at an annual salary of $230,000 and Mr.
Bays as Senior Vice  President of Operations and Chief  Operating  Officer at an
annual salary of $175,000.  Under the terms of the  employment  agreements,  the
Compensation  Committee  reviews the compensation of Messrs.  Treace and Bays at
least once each year,  and may award such  bonuses and effect such  increases in
base salary as it shall  determine.  In  addition,  Messrs.  Treace and Bays are
eligible for the Key  Executive  Bonus  Program  adopted by the  Company,  which
program  provides  for a bonus  in an  amount  up to and at the 50%  level of an
employee's  salary  upon  attainment  of  the  bonus  criteria.  The  employment
agreements  have an initial term of three years,  and may be extended  upon good
faith negotiations between the parties, which negotiations shall begin not later
than 90 days prior to the expiration of the stated term of the agreement.

         The agreements  entitle these executive officers to participate in such
fringe benefits as shall be generally provided to the executives of the Company,
including  medical  insurance and retirement  programs which may be adopted from
time to time by the Company.  In addition,  in connection with entering into the
employment  agreements in April 1996, the Company granted to Messrs.  Treace and
Bays 73,000 and 42,000 stock options, respectively, under the Stock Option Plan,
and each of Messrs.  Treace and Bays are eligible for additional grants of stock
options  as  target  bonuses  pursuant  to  corporate   performance   objectives
established by the Board of Directors' Compensation Committee.  The Compensation
Committee  will  review each  executive  officer's  compensation  and award such
bonuses  or  make  such  increases  to the  annual  salary  as the  Compensation
Committee, in its sole discretion, determines are merited.

         The employment  agreements  contain covenants  prohibiting the improper
disclosure and use of any of the Company's and its predecessors'  trade secrets,
know-how  and  proprietary  processes,  as well as  provisions  assigning to the
Company all  inventions  made or conceived by the executive  officer  during his
employment with the Company. Each executive officer agreed with the Company that
until twelve months after the  termination of his employment with the Company he
would not (whether as an officer, Director, owner, employee, partner or


                                       10
<PAGE>


other  direct  or  indirect  participant)  engage  in any  Competitive  Business
(defined as the manufacturing,  supplying,  producing,  selling, distributing or
providing for sale of (i) any product, device or instrument manufactured from or
using polyvinal  acetal (PVAc) material or technology or (ii) any eye, ear, nose
or throat  product,  device or instrument (x) of a type  manufactured or sold by
the Company or its subsidiaries or (y) in clinical development  sponsored by the
Company or its  subsidiaries,  in each case,  as of the date of  termination  of
employment).

         The Company may  terminate the  employment  of the  executive  officers
under the employment agreements (i) upon 30 days' notice if the employee becomes
physically  or  mentally  incapacitated  or is  injured  so that he is unable to
perform the services required of him and such inability to perform continues for
a period in excess of six months and is  continuing  at the time of such notice;
(ii) for cause upon notice of such termination to the employee; or (iii) without
cause upon 30 days' notice of such termination to the employee. If an employment
agreement is  terminated  pursuant to (i) above,  the  executive  officer  shall
receive salary  continuation pay from the date of such  termination  until April
16,  1999,  reduced by  applicable  payroll  taxes and  amounts  received by the
executive officer under any  Company-maintained  disability  insurance policy or
plan under  Social  Security or similar  laws.  If an  employment  agreement  is
terminated pursuant to (ii) above, the executive officer shall receive no salary
continuation  pay or severance  pay. If an  employment  agreement is  terminated
pursuant to (iii) above, the executive officer shall receive salary continuation
pay for a period of twelve months from and after the date of such termination.

         On May 10, 1996, the Company  entered into a Separation  Agreement with
Mark K.  Adams  (the  "Separation  Agreement").  Pursuant  to the  terms  of the
Separation  Agreement:  (i) all options  received  by Mr.  Adams under the Stock
Option Plan became fully vested; (ii) the Company agreed to provide to Mr. Adams
an  allowance  for  outplacement  services;  (iii) the Company  paid Mr. Adams a
severance  payment of  $359,532;  (iv) the  Company's  loan to Mr.  Adams in the
amount of $300,007 was  satisfied in full in exchange for his surrender of 9,563
shares of Series A Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  par value $1.00 per share, of
the Company and 2,074 shares of Series C Redeemable  Preferred  Stock, par value
$1.00 per share,  of the Company held by him; and (v) the Company agreed to make
monthly  severance  payments to Mr. Adams at a rate of $175,000 per year for two
years, with the first year's payment  guaranteed and payments in the second year
payable only until such time as he obtains full time employment  elsewhere.  Mr.
Adams has  obtained  full time  employment  and  therefore  the  Company  is not
obligated to make severance  payments during the second year. Mr. Adams has also
agreed to provide  consulting  services to the Company for a period of two years
for no  additional  consideration.  In  addition,  Mr. Adams has agreed with the
Company that, until May 10, 1998, he will not (whether as an officer,  Director,
owner, employee,  partner or other direct or indirect participant) engage in any
Competitive  Business  (defined in  substantially  the same manner as  described
above with respect to the employment  agreements of James T. Treace and F. Barry
Bays).  During this same two-year period, Mr. Adams has agreed that he will not,
directly  or  indirectly,  employ or solicit  for  employment  any  person  then
employed  by the  Company.  Mr.  Adams  also has  agreed  that he only  will use
confidential  information  with  respect to the  Company  for the benefit of the
Company and only disclose this  information  to others with the Company's  prior
approval.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

         The  Board  of  Directors  met  five  times  during  1996.  Each of the
Directors serving on the Board of Directors in 1996 attended at least 75% of all
meetings of the Board of Directors and of each  committee on which such Director
served as a member.

Committees of the Board of Directors

         The Board of Directors has, as standing committees,  an Audit Committee
and a Compensation Committee.  The Board of Directors does not have a Nominating
Committee.


                                       11
<PAGE>


         Audit  Committee.  The Audit Committee  consists of Messrs.  Thomas and
Miller and Ms. Weatherman.  The Audit Committee reviews the results and scope of
the  annual  audit  of  the  Company's  financial  statements  conducted  by the
Company's independent  accountants,  the scope of other services provided by the
Company's independent  accountants,  proposed changes in the Company's financial
and  accounting  standards  and  principles,  and  the  Company's  policies  and
procedures  with respect to its  internal  accounting,  auditing  and  financial
controls and makes  recommendations  to the Board of Directors on the engagement
of the independent  accountants,  as well as other matters which may come before
the Audit  Committee or at the  direction of the Board of  Directors.  The Audit
Committee met one time in 1996.

         Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs.
Emmitt  and Miller  and Ms.  Weatherman.  The  Compensation  Committee  provides
recommendations concerning salaries and incentive compensation for employees of,
and  consultants  to, the Company and  administers the Stock Option Plan and the
Company's  401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan. The  Compensation  Committee met five
times in 1996.

Compensation of Directors

         William R. Miller  receives from the Company $1,000 in directors'  fees
per  meeting  attended.  No other  member  of the Board of  Directors  currently
receives directors' fees from the Company. The Company is obligated to reimburse
its Board members for all reasonable  expenses incurred in connection with their
attendance at directors' meetings.

         On February 5, 1997,  the  Compensation  Committee  granted  William R.
Miller  options to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$15.0625 per share.  The options vest over a four-year period and are subject to
the same terms and  conditions  as options  previously  granted  under the Stock
Option  Plan  as set  forth  in the  Company's  standard  form of  Stock  Option
Agreement.

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

         Compensation  Philosophy.  The Compensation Committee generally follows
several  guidelines to arrive at its  recommendations  to the Board of Directors
concerning the compensation of the Company's executive  officers.  The Company's
executive  compensation  program is designed to (i) attract and retain executive
officers who contribute to the long-term  success of the Company,  (ii) motivate
executive officers to achieve strategic business  objectives and reward them for
their achievement, and (iii) fairly compensate executive officers based on their
corporate and individual performance and responsibilities.

         To date, the primary elements of the Company's compensation program for
its executive officers have been (i) an annual compensation component consisting
of base salary and bonus and (ii) a long-term  compensation component consisting
of stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan.

         Annual Compensation.  The Compensation Committee has generally targeted
annual salary and bonus levels to be  competitive  with those paid to executives
at other  companies  that have similar  operating  dynamics.  Base  salaries are
determined by evaluating the responsibilities associated with the position being
evaluated  and the  individual's  overall  level of  experience.  Annual  salary
adjustments are determined by giving consideration to the Company's  performance
and the individual's contribution to that performance.

         Each of the executive officers' annual bonus is determined based on the
achievement of certain objectives agreed-upon with the executive. In determining
these objectives, the Compensation Committee considers the Company's performance
and the individual's contribution to that performance.  Corporate performance is
measured  by  various  quantitative  and  qualitative   factors.   However,  the
Compensation  Committee  believes that, in accordance with its exercise of sound
business  judgment,  the  determination  of annual  salary  and bonus  levels is
inherently  subjective  and must include a review of all  relevant  information,
with no predetermined weight given to any of the factors considered.


                                       12
<PAGE>


         Messrs.  James T.  Treace  and Bays  are the  only  executive  officers
currently  party to employment  agreements  with the Company.  These  agreements
establish the annual base salaries for Messrs.  Treace and Bays. The annual base
salaries for Messrs. Timbie, John R. Treace, Coleman, Williamson, Dinger, Dan H.
Treace, Fletcher and Bussell were, and future salary increases for the executive
officers will be, based on the considerations noted above.

         Key  Executive  Bonus  Program.  The Company  maintains a Key Executive
Bonus Program in which key management personnel are eligible to participate. The
plan allows  participants to earn bonuses up to stated percentages of their base
salary.  For 1996, the  percentages  were as follows:  50% for the President and
Senior  Vice  President,  30-40%  for Vice  Presidents,  25% for  directors  and
regional sales managers,  25% for  international  managers,  20% for first level
managers and 10% for second level  managers and key  employees.  The bonuses are
paid based on the Company's  achievement of operating results,  including sales,
profitability  and  asset  management  goals.  During  1996,  a total  of 47 key
employees  participated  in the bonus  plan.  The Company  presently  intends to
continue the bonus plan for 1997 and future years.

         Long-Term  Compensation.  In order to align  stockholder  and executive
officer  interests,   the  long-term   component  of  the  Company's   executive
compensation  program  involves  stock  option  awards  whose  value is directly
related to the value of the Common Stock. These stock options are granted by the
Compensation Committee pursuant to the Stock Option Plan. Stock option awards to
Messrs.  James T. Treace and Bays are based upon certain  corporate  performance
objectives established by the Compensation Committee.  Other individuals to whom
stock options awards are to be granted and the amount of Common Stock related to
such  awards  are  determined  solely  at the  discretion  of  the  Compensation
Committee.  Because  individual  stock  option  award  levels will be based on a
subjective  evaluation  of each  individual's  overall past and expected  future
contribution,  no  specific  formula is used to  determine  such  awards for any
executive other than Messrs. James T. Treace and Bays.

         Chief Executive  Officer  Compensation for 1996. Under the terms of the
employment  agreement  with Mr.  James T.  Treace,  the  Compensation  Committee
reviews Mr.  Treace's  compensation at least once each year, and will award such
bonuses and effect such  increases  in base  salary as it shall  determine.  The
determination  by the  Compensation  Committee  with  respect  to  Mr.  Treace's
compensation for 1996 was based on the considerations noted above.

                                        COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                                        Richard B. Emmitt
                                        William R. Miller
                                        Elizabeth H. Weatherman




Comparative Stock Price Performance Graph

         The graph  below  compares  the total  cumulative  return of the Common
Stock from October 11, 1996 (the date trading of the Common Stock  commenced) to
December 31, 1996,  to the  performance  of the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the S&P
Health Care (Medical Products and Supplies) Index during such period.  The graph
assumes that dividends were  reinvested and is based on an investment of $100 on
October  11, 1996 in each of the Common  Stock,  the stocks  comprising  the S&P
Midcap 400 Index and the stocks comprising the S&P Health Care (Medical Products
and Supplies) Index.


                                       13
<PAGE>


                 COMPARISON OF 2 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
                     Among Xomed Surgical Products, Inc.,
                           The S&P Midcap 400 Index
                                      and
           The S&P Health Care (Medical Products and Supplies) Index



<TABLE>

                           [PERFORMANCE GRAPH APPEARS HERE]



                                                           Cumulative Total Return
                                                           -----------------------
                                                                 10/11/96              12/31/96
                                                                 --------              --------
<S>                                                        <C>                     <C>

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc.                                      $100                  $95
S&P Midcap 400 Index                                               $100                 $106
S&P Health Care (Medical Products and Supplies) Index              $100                 $101

</TABLE>

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

         No officer or employee of the Company  currently  serves as a member of
the Compensation Committee.

Certain Transactions

         The  following is a summary of certain  transactions  among the Company
and its Directors, executive officers and principal stockholders:

         Stockholders   Agreement.   Under   a   stockholders   agreement  among
the  Company  and   substantially  all  of  its   then-existing    stockholders,
executed in  connection with  the   acquisition of  TreBay,   so long as Warburg
owns 40%  or more  of the  total number  of outstanding  shares of Common Stock,
Warburg will  have the  right to  designate   three   persons to be appointed or
nominated  for election to the Board  of Directors. If at any time Warburg  owns
less than 40%,  but 20% or  more, of the  total number of  outstanding shares of
Common Stock,   Warburg will  have the  right to  designate   two persons  to be
appointed or nominated   for election to  the Board of   Directors.  If  at  any
time Warburg  owns less  than 20%,  but 10%  or more,   of the  total  number of
outstanding  shares of Common   Stock, Warburg will have the right  to designate
one  person  to  be  appointed  or  nominated  for   election   to the  Board of
Directors.   Warburg   currently   has   under   the stockholders  agreement the
right to designate  three persons to  be appointed or nominated to the Board  of
Directors.    In  addition,    the    stockholders    agreement  provides   each
stockholder  that  is  a  party  thereto  with  certain  rights  to  inspect the
Company's   properties   and its  books and  records and  to discuss its affairs
with  management  so  long  as  the  stockholder   holds  at  least  2%  of  the
outstanding Common Stock.

         TreBay Loan. On November 7, 1995,  TreBay  loaned  $883,000 to James T.
Treace,  its  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer.  Following the Company's
acquisition of TreBay in April 1996,  Mr. Treace became the Company's  President
and Chief  Executive  Officer.  As of March 12,  1997,  a  principal  balance of
$724,000 was  outstanding  under the loan.  The loan is payable on demand at any
time  following  November  7, 2000 and  matures on  November  7, 2002.  Interest
accrues on the loan at an annual  rate of 10% and is  payable,  at Mr.  Treace's
election, upon each anniversary of the loan or its maturity. The loan is secured
by a pledge of 44,460 shares of Common Stock.


                                       14
<PAGE>


         Exchange of Series C Preferred  Stock.  Pursuant to an agreement  among
the Company and certain of its  stockholders,  upon  consummation of the initial
public  offering of Common Stock in October 1996, (i) 238,300 shares of Series C
Redeemable  Preferred  Stock,  par value $1.00 per share,  of the  Company  (the
"Series C Preferred  Stock") were redeemed by the Company and (ii) the remaining
60,126  shares of Series C Preferred  Stock not so redeemed  were  exchanged for
300,354 shares of Common Stock.

         Registration  Rights.  In  connection  both with the  formation  of the
Company and its  acquisition of TreBay,  the Company granted certain rights with
respect to the  registration of  approximately  4,258,554 shares of Common Stock
currently  held by certain  stockholders  (the  "Investors"  and such shares the
"Registrable  Securities").  Such registration rights also extend to any capital
stock of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to,
or in exchange for or in replacement  of, the shares of Common Stock referred to
above and any  additional  shares of Common Stock which any of the Investors may
thereafter  acquire.  Certain  of the  Investors  hold  options to  purchase  an
aggregate  of  303,166  shares of Common  Stock.  The shares  obtained  upon the
exercise  of such  options  will  also be  Registrable  Securities.  A holder or
holders of the  Registrable  Securities  (each,  a "Holder") who are a Holder or
Holders of more than 20% of the then outstanding  Registrable  Securities (each,
an  "Initiating  Holder")  are  entitled  to  request  that the  Company  file a
registration statement under the Securities Act covering the sale of some or all
of the  Registrable  Securities  owned  by  such  holders,  subject  to  certain
conditions.   The   Company  is  required  to  effect  no  more  than  two  such
registrations  (three if the prior  registrations  did not include Warburg as an
Initiating Holder).  The Company is not required to effect any such registration
if the anticipated aggregate public offering price of the shares of Common Stock
proposed to be registered is less than $5.0 million. If officers or directors of
the Company  holding other  securities of the Company  request  inclusion in any
such  registration,  or if  holders  of  securities  of the  Company  other than
Registrable  Securities  who are  entitled,  by  contract  with the  Company  or
otherwise,  to have  securities  included  in such a  registration  (the  "Other
Shareholders")  request  such  inclusion,  the Holders will offer to include the
securities  of  such  officers,   directors  and  Other   Shareholders   in  any
underwriting  involved in such registration,  provided,  among other conditions,
that the underwriter  representative of any such offering has the right, subject
to certain conditions, to limit the number of Registrable Securities included in
the  registration.  In  addition,  in the event  that the  Company  proposes  to
register any of its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") (other than registrations  relating solely to employee benefit
plans or pursuant to Rule 145 or on a form which does not permit secondary sales
or does not include  substantially  the same information as would be required to
be  included  in a  registration  statement  covering  the  sale of  Registrable
Securities),  either for its own  account or for the  account of other  security
holders or holders  exercising  their  respective  demand  registration  rights,
holders of  Registrable  Securities  may require the Company to include all or a
portion  of  their  Registrable  Securities  in  the  registration  and  in  any
underwriting  involved  therein,  provided,  among  other  conditions,  that the
underwriter  representative  of any such  offering  has the  right,  subject  to
certain  conditions,  to limit the number of Registrable  Securities included in
the  registration.  Further,  once the Company is  qualified  to use Form S-3 to
register  securities  under the  Securities  Act,  the  holders  of  Registrable
Securities  shall have the right to request three  registrations  on Form S-3 to
register all or a portion of such shares under the  Securities  Act,  subject to
certain  conditions.   In  general,   all  fees,  costs  and  expenses  of  such
registrations  (other  than  underwriting   discounts  and  selling  commissions
applicable to sales of the Registrable Securities and all fees and disbursements
of counsel for each of the Holders) will be borne by the Company.


                                       15
<PAGE>


                                  PROPOSAL TWO

                        AMENDMENT OF STOCK OPTION PLAN TO
              INCREASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE

Amendments

         Options to purchase an aggregate of 778,000  shares of Common Stock are
currently  authorized under the Stock Option Plan. As of March 12, 1997, a total
of 9,534 shares of Common Stock  remained  available  for future grant under the
Stock Option Plan. In order to provide for sufficient shares of Common Stock for
future grants, the Board of Directors has amended the Stock Option Plan, subject
to  stockholder  approval,  to provide that the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plan be increased by 300,000 shares
from 778,000 to  1,078,000.  The Board of  Directors  has also amended the Stock
Option Plan, subject to stockholder  approval,  to comply with Section 162(m) of
the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  by providing  that
the  number of shares of Common  Stock  with  respect  to which  options  may be
granted to any single optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed 60,000.
In  addition,  the  Board  of  Directors  approved  additional,  non-substantive
amendments to the Stock Option Plan to reflect the Company's  status as a public
company.  The  Stock  Option  Plan as so  amended  is  hereby  submitted  to the
stockholders of the Company for approval.

         THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION
OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE STOCK OPTION PLAN.

         A general description of the basic features of the Stock Option Plan is
set forth below.  Such  description is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the full text of the Stock Option Plan, a copy of which may be obtained  without
charge upon written request to Thomas E. Timbie, Secretary of the Company.

         On April 15, 1996, the Board of Directors  adopted and the stockholders
approved the Stock Option Plan. The Stock Option Plan was  subsequently  amended
and restated on June 14, 1996 and July 24, 1996 and approved by  stockholders on
July 24, 1996.  The Stock  Option Plan is open to  participation  by  Directors,
officers, consultants, other key employees of the Company or of its subsidiaries
and certain other key persons who the Stock Option  Committee (as defined below)
determines shall receive options under the Stock Option Plan.

         The Stock Option Plan authorizes:  (i) the grant of options to purchase
Common  Stock  intended  to  qualify  as  incentive  stock  options  ("Incentive
Options"),  as defined in Section 422 of the Code; and (ii) the grant of options
that do not so qualify  ("Non-Statutory  Options" and,  together with  Incentive
Options,  "Options"). At present, an aggregate of 778,000 shares of Common Stock
have been  reserved  for issuance  under the Stock Option Plan.  As of March 12,
1997,  options to  purchase an  aggregate  of 565,766  shares  having a weighted
average  exercise  price of $11.70  per share were  outstanding  under the Stock
Option  Plan,  options for  198,700  shares had been  exercised  under the Stock
Option Plan and options to purchase  9,534 shares were available for grant under
the Stock Option Plan. The Stock Option Plan expires on April 16, 2004. On April
15,  1997,  the last  reported  sale  price for the  Common  Stock on the Nasdaq
National Market was $15.375 per share.

         The Stock Option Plan is administered by a committee (the "Stock Option
Committee")  appointed by the Board of  Directors.  The  Compensation  Committee
serves as the Stock Option  Committee.  The Stock Option  Committee has the sole
authority,  in its absolute  discretion:  (i) to determine which of the eligible
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries shall be granted options;  (ii) to
authorize  the granting of both  Incentive  Options and  Non-Statutory  Options;
(iii) to  determine  the times when  options  shall be granted and the number of
shares to be optioned;  (iv) to determine the option price of the shares subject
to each option, subject to the limitations described below; (v) to determine the
time or times when each option becomes exercisable, the duration of the exercise
period and any other  restrictions  on the exercise of options  issued under the
Stock


                                       16
<PAGE>


Option Plan; (vi) to prescribe the form or forms of the option  agreements under
the  Stock  Option  Plan;  (vii) to  adopt,  amend and  rescind  such  rules and
regulations as, in its opinion,  may be advisable in the  administration  of the
Stock Option Plan;  and (viii) to construe and  interpret the Stock Option Plan,
the rules and regulations and the option  agreements under the Stock Option Plan
and to make all other  determinations  deemed  necessary  or  advisable  for the
administration  of the Stock  Option Plan.  All  decisions,  determinations  and
interpretations  of the Stock  Option  Committee  are final and  binding  on all
optionees.

         Incentive  Options  may be  granted  only to  officers  and  other  key
employees  of the  Company or its  subsidiaries.  Non-Statutory  Options  may be
granted to  Directors,  consultants,  or other key persons who the Stock  Option
Committee  determines  shall receive  options  under the Stock Option Plan.  The
approximate  number of officers and other key employees  eligible to participate
is 100, and the number of Directors eligible to participate is 7.

         No option  may be  exercised  after the date ten years from the date of
grant of such option (five years in the case of Incentive Options of individuals
holding more than ten percent of the total combined  voting power of all classes
of   stock  of  the   Company   or  of  any   parent   or   subsidiary   thereof
("greater-than-ten-percent-stockholders"))   (the   "Termination   Date").   The
exercise  price for  Non-Statutory  Options may not be less than 50% of the fair
market  value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  The exercise  price for
Incentive  Options may not be less than 100% of fair market  value of the Common
Stock    on    the    date    of    grant    (110%    in   the    case    of   a
greater-than-ten-percent-stockholder).   The   aggregate   fair   market   value
(determined  as of the time the  option is  granted)  of the  Common  Stock with
respect to which any Incentive  Options may be exercisable for the first time by
the  optionee in any  calendar  year  (under the Stock  Option Plan or any other
stock option plan of the Company or any parent or subsidiary  thereof) shall not
exceed $100,000.

         Options are non-transferable  except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.   Generally,   unless  otherwise  provided  by  the  Stock  Option
Committee,  options  granted  under the Stock  Option  Plan  terminate  upon the
earliest of: (i) the expiration  date of the option;  (ii) the date of voluntary
termination  of the  optionee's  employment by the  optionee;  (iii) the date of
termination  of the optionee's  employment by the Company for cause;  (iv) three
months after the date of termination of the optionee's employment by the Company
without cause; (v) one year after the cessation of the optionee's  employment by
reason of a disability  within the meaning of Section 105(d)(4) of the Code; and
(vi) one year after the death of an optionee prior to the  Termination  Date and
while  employed  by the  Company or a  subsidiary  thereof or while  entitled to
exercise an option  pursuant to (v) above (such option shall be  exercisable  by
the person to whom the  optionee's  rights  under the option pass by will or the
applicable laws of descent and  distribution).  For purposes of the Stock Option
Plan,  the Company shall have "cause" to terminate an  optionee's  employment if
the Company has cause to terminate the optionee's  employment under any existing
employment  agreement between the optionee and the Company or, in the absence of
such an employment  agreement,  upon (a) determination by the Board of Directors
that the optionee has ceased to perform his duties to the Company (other than as
a result of his incapacity  due to physical or mental illness or injury),  which
failure  amounts to an  intentional  and  extended  neglect of his duties to the
Company, (b) the Board of Directors' determination that the optionee has engaged
or is about to engage in conduct materially  injurious to the Company or (c) the
optionee having been convicted of a felony. If an option may be exercised during
any period after the  termination of an optionee's  employment with the Company,
such option may be  exercised  only to the extent that the optionee was entitled
to exercise such option at the time of such termination.

         Payment for shares of Common  Stock  purchased  under an Option must be
made in full upon  exercise of the Option by certified or bank  cashier's  check
payable to the order of the Company, by the surrender or delivery to the Company
of shares of Common  Stock held for at least six  months,  or by any other means
acceptable to the Company and designated by the Stock Option Committee.

         The Board of  Directors  may,  without  the  consent  of the  Company's
stockholders  or  optionees  under the Stock Option  Plan,  terminate  the Stock
Option  Plan at any time or from time to time amend or modify  the Stock  Option
Plan,  provided that no such action adversely affects Options previously granted
without the optionee's  consent.  The Board of Directors may not amend or modify
the Stock Option Plan, without approval of the


                                       17
<PAGE>


stockholders,  to (i)  increase the total number of shares of Common Stock which
may be purchased pursuant to Options granted under the Stock Option Plan or (ii)
decrease the minimum Option price.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

         The  following  is  a  brief  discussion  of  the  Federal  income  tax
consequences of  transactions  under the Stock Option Plan based on the Code, as
in effect as of the date hereof.  The Stock Option Plan is not  qualified  under
Section 401(a) of the Code. This discussion is not intended to be exhaustive and
does not describe the state or local tax consequences.

         Incentive Stock Options.  No taxable income is realized by the optionee
upon the grant or exercise of an Incentive  Option. If Common Stock is issued to
an  optionee  pursuant  to  the  exercise  of an  Incentive  Option,  and  if no
disqualifying  disposition  of such shares is made by such  optionee  within two
years  after the date of grant or within  one year  after the  transfer  of such
shares to such optionee,  then (i) upon sale of such shares, any amount realized
in excess of the  exercise  price will be taxed to such  optionee as a long-term
capital gain and any loss sustained  will be a long-term  capital loss, and (ii)
no deduction will be allowed to the  optionee's  employer for Federal income tax
purposes.

         If the Common Stock  acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive  Option
is disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above,
generally  (i)  the  optionee  will  realize  ordinary  income  in the  year  of
disposition  in an amount  equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value
of such shares at exercise (or, if less, the amount  realized on the disposition
of such  shares)  over the  exercise  price paid for such  shares,  and (ii) the
optionee's  employer  will be entitled to deduct such amount for Federal  income
tax  purposes  if the amount  represents  an  ordinary  and  necessary  business
expense.  Any further gain (or loss)  realized by the optionee  will be taxed as
short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss), as the case may be, and will not
result in any deduction by the employer.

         Subject to certain  exceptions for disability or death, if an Incentive
Option  is  exercised  more than  three  months  following  the  termination  of
employment,  the exercise of the option will  generally be taxed as the exercise
of a Non-Statutory Option.

         For  purposes  of  determining  whether an  optionee  is subject to any
alternative minimum tax liability, an optionee who exercises an Incentive Option
generally would be required to increase his or her  alternative  minimum taxable
income,  and compute the tax basis in the stock so acquired,  in the same manner
as if the optionee had exercised a non-qualified  stock option. Each optionee is
potentially subject to the alternative minimum tax. In substance,  a taxpayer is
required to pay the higher of the optionee's  alternative  minimum tax liability
or the optionee's "regular" income tax liability. As a result, a taxpayer has to
determine the taxpayer's potential liability under the alternative minimum tax.

         Non-Statutory  Stock  Options.  Except as noted below,  with respect to
Non-Statutory Options, (i) no income is realized by the optionee at the time the
option is granted; (ii) generally,  at exercise,  ordinary income is realized by
the optionee in an amount  equal to the  difference  between the exercise  price
paid for the  shares  and the fair  market  value of the  shares  on the date of
exercise,  and the optionee's  employer is generally entitled to a tax deduction
in the same amount subject to applicable tax withholding requirements; and (iii)
at sale, the amount of appreciation (or depreciation) after the date as of which
amounts are  includable  in income is treated as either  short-term or long-term
capital gain (or loss), depending on how long the shares have been held.

         Special  Rules  Applicable  to Corporate  Insiders.  As a result of the
rules under  Section 16(b) of the Exchange  Act,  "insiders"  (as defined in the
Exchange Act),  depending  upon the particular  exemption from the provisions of
Section  16(b)  utilized,  may not receive the same tax  treatment  as set forth
above with respect to the grant and/or exercise of options. Generally,  insiders
will not be subject to taxation  until the expiration of any period during which
they are subject to the  liability  provisions  of Section 16(b) of the Exchange
Act with

                                       18
<PAGE>


respect to any particular  option.  Insiders should check with their  individual
tax advisers to ascertain  the  appropriate  tax  treatment  for any  particular
option.

New Plan Benefits

         The grant of Options under the Stock Option Plan is entirely within the
discretion of the Stock Option Committee. The Company cannot forecast the extent
of option  grants  that will be made in the future.  Therefore,  the Company has
omitted the tabular  disclosure of the benefits or amounts  allocated  under the
Stock Option Plan.  Compensation  paid and other benefits  granted in respect of
the 1996  fiscal  year to the  Named  Executive  Officers  are set  forth in the
Summary Compensation Table.

                                 PROPOSAL THREE

                       APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         The Board of Directors has, upon  recommendation of the Audit Committee
and subject to ratification by the stockholders,  appointed Ernst & Young LLP as
independent  auditors to report on the consolidated  financial statements of the
Company for the fiscal year ending  December 31, 1997, and to perform such other
services  as  may be  required  of  Ernst  &  Young  LLP.  Although  stockholder
ratification of the Board of Directors' selection is not required,  the Board of
Directors considers it desirable for the stockholders to pass upon the selection
of the independent auditors. If the stockholders  disapprove of the selection of
Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors,  the Board of Directors will consider
the selection of other  independent  auditors.  One or more  representatives  of
Ernst &  Young  LLP  will be  present  at the  Annual  Meeting,  will  have  the
opportunity  to  make a  statement  if he or she  desires  to do so and  will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION
      OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR 1997.

                       SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                              REPORTING COMPLIANCE

         Section  16(a) of the Exchange Act  requires  the  Company's  executive
officers,  Directors and persons who own more than 10% of the Common  Stock,  to
file with the SEC  initial  reports  of  ownership  and  reports  of  changes in
ownership of Common Stock.  Executive  officers,  Directors and greater than 10%
stockholders  are required by SEC  regulation to furnish the Company with copies
of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

         To the  Company's  knowledge,  based  solely on review of the copies of
such reports  furnished to the Company,  all Section  16(a) filing  requirements
applicable to its executive officers,  Directors and greater than 10% beneficial
owners were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.

                  STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS -- 1997 ANNUAL MEETING

         Any proposals of stockholders of the Company intended to be included in
the Company's  proxy  statement and form of proxy relating to the Company's next
annual meeting of stockholders  must be in writing and received by the Secretary
of the  Company  at  the  Company's  office  at  6743  Southpoint  Drive  North,
Jacksonville, Florida 32216 no later than December 26, 1997.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of  Directors  does not know of any  matters  other  than the
foregoing  that will be  presented  for  consideration  at the  Annual  Meeting.
However, if other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is

                                       19

<PAGE>


the  intention  of the  persons  named in the  enclosed  proxy card to take such
action as is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

         The entire cost of  soliciting  proxies from its  stockholders  will be
borne by the  Company.  In  addition  to the use of the  mails,  proxies  may be
solicited by personal interview, telephone or telegram by Directors, officers or
regular employees of the Company,  who will not receive additional  compensation
for  such  solicitation  but  may be  reimbursed  for  reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses  incurred in connection  therewith.  Arrangements may also be made with
brokerage firms and other custodians,  nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy
solicitation  materials to the beneficial  owners of shares of Common Stock held
of record  by such  persons,  in which  case the  Company  will  reimburse  such
brokerage   firms,   custodians,   nominees  and   fiduciaries   for  reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.

         The Company will provide to any  stockholder  of record and  beneficial
owners at the close of business on April 15, 1997,  without  charge upon written
request to its Secretary at 6743 Southpoint Drive North,  Jacksonville,  Florida
32216,  a copy of the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996.

         The  principal  executive  offices of the  Company  are located at 6743
Southpoint Drive North, Jacksonville,  Florida 32216 and the Company's telephone
number is (904) 296-9600.


                                       By order of the Board of Directors,

                                       /s/ Thomas E. Timbie

                                       Thomas E. Timbie
                                       Secretary



                                       20
<PAGE>


XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
6743 Southpoint Drive North
Jacksonville, Florida  32216

PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
at 3:30 p.m., Jacksonville time, on May 28, 1997


         The  undersigned  hereby appoints James T. Treace and Thomas E. Timbie,
and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies of the undersigned
to vote all shares of stock which the undersigned is entitled in any capacity to
vote at the  above-stated  annual  meeting,  and at any and all  adjournments or
postponements  thereof (the "Annual  Meeting"),  on the matters set forth on the
reverse  side of this Proxy  Card,  and, in their  discretion,  upon all matters
incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting and upon such other matters as may
properly  be brought  before the Annual  Meeting.  This proxy  revokes all prior
proxies given by the undersigned.

         All  properly  executed  proxies  will  be  voted  as  directed.  If no
instructions  are  indicated on a properly  executed  proxy,  such proxy will be
voted FOR approval of Proposals 1, 2 and 3. All ABSTAIN votes will be counted in
determining the existence of a quorum at the Annual  Meeting,  but will have the
same effect as a vote AGAINST Proposals 2 and 3.

                                         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED  ON BEHALF OF
                                         THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS OF XOMED
                                         SURGICAL PRODUCTS,  INC.

                                         Receipt of the Notice of Meeting and
                                         the Proxy Statement, dated April 24,
                                         1997 (the " Proxy Statement"), is
                                         hereby acknowledged.

                                         PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE
                                         SIDE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
                                         USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

                                            (Continued on reverse side)





<PAGE>


                          (Continued from reverse side)

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                         XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

                  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
                             PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.

Please mark boxes in blue or black ink.
1. Election of Directors               FOR all nominees listed below:     [ ]

Nominees:  James T. Treace, Richard B. Emmitt, Paul H. Klingenstein, William R.
           Miller, Rodman W. Moorhead, III, James E. Thomas and Elizabeth H.
           Weatherman

INSTRUCTION:  If you wish to withhold authority to vote for any individual
              nominee, write that nominee's name on the line provided below:


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>

2.   Proposal to approve amendments to the Company's Stock           (Joint owners should EACH sign.  Please sign EXACTLY as
     Option Plan to, among other things, increase the number of      your name(s) appears on this card.  When signing as attorney,
     shares of Common Stock reserved for issuances thereunder by     trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or corporate
     300,000 shares from 778,000 to 1,078,000.                       officer, please give your FULL title below.)
       FOR  [ ]      AGAINST  [ ]       ABSTAIN  [ ]
                                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     (Title or Authority)

3.   Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP         _________________________________________________________
     as the independent public auditors of the Company for the                       (Signature)
     fiscal year ending December 31, 1997.
       FOR  [ ]      AGAINST  [ ]       ABSTAIN  [ ]                 _________________________________________________________
                                                                                     (Signature)

                                                                     Dated:_______________________, 1997

4.   In the discretion of the proxies with respect to
     any other matters that may properly come before the
     Annual Meeting.
</TABLE>


  YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
                          USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.




<PAGE>


                                    APPENDIX

                                (SEC filing only)



              Third Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan.



<PAGE>




                           THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          XOMED SURGICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                      * * *

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     Purpose
                                     -------

         This Third Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is
intended as an incentive and to encourage stock ownership by officers and
certain other key employees of Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. (the "Company") and
its subsidiaries in order to increase their proprietary interest in the
Company's success and to encourage them to remain in the employ of the Company.

         The word "Company", when used in the Plan with reference to employment,
shall include subsidiaries of the Company. The word "subsidiary", when used in
the Plan, shall mean any subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section
424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

         It is intended that certain options granted under this Plan will
qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Code.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                 Administration
                                 --------------

         The Plan shall be administered by a Compensation Committee (the
"Committee") appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board").
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole authority,
in its absolute discretion: (a) to determine which of the eligible employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries shall be granted options; (b) to authorize the
granting of both incentive stock options and non-qualified options; (c) to
determine the times when options shall be granted and the number of shares to be
optioned; (d) to determine the option price of the shares subject to each
option, which price shall be not less than the minimum specified in ARTICLE V;
(e) to determine the time or times when each option becomes exercisable, the
duration of the exercise period and any other restrictions on the exercise of
options issued hereunder; (f) to accelerate the exercisability of any
outstanding options; (g) to prescribe the form or forms of the option agreements
under the Plan (which forms shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan but
need not be identical); (h) to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and
regulations as, in its opinion, may be advisable

<PAGE>


in the administration of the Plan; and (i) to construe and interpret the Plan,
the rules and regulations and the option agreements under the Plan and to make
all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of
the Plan. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Committee
shall be final and binding on all optionees.


                                   ARTICLE III

                                      Stock
                                      -----

         The stock to be optioned under the Plan shall be shares of authorized
but unissued Common Stock of the Company, $.01 par value, or previously issued
shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company (the "Stock"). Under the Plan,
the total number of shares of Stock which may be purchased pursuant to options
granted hereunder shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 1,078,000 shares, except
as such number of shares shall be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of
ARTICLE X hereof. The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which
options may be granted to any single optionee during any calendar year shall not
exceed 60,000, except as such number of shares shall be adjusted in accordance
with the provisions of ARTICLE X.

         The number of shares of Stock available for grant of options under the
Plan shall be decreased by the sum of the number of shares with respect to which
options have been issued and are then outstanding and the number of shares
issued upon exercise of options. In the event that any outstanding option under
the Plan for any reason expires, is terminated, or is cancelled prior to the end
of the period during which options may be granted, the shares of Stock called
for by the unexercised portion of such option may again be subject to an option
under the Plan.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                           Eligibility of Participants
                           ---------------------------

         Subject to ARTICLE VII, officers and other key employees of the Company
or of its subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive options under the Plan. In
addition, options which are not incentive stock options may be granted to
directors, consultants, or other key persons who the Committee determines shall
receive options under the Plan.






                                       2



<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE V

                                  Option Price
                                  ------------

         In the case of each incentive stock option granted under the Plan, the
option price shall be not less than the fair market value of the Stock at the
time the incentive stock option was granted. In the case of options other than
incentive stock options, the option price shall not be less than 50% of the fair
market value of the stock at the time the option was granted. The fair market
value shall be deemed for all purposes of the Plan to be the mean between the
highest and lowest sale prices reported as having occurred on any Exchange with
which the Company's Common Stock may be listed and traded on the date the option
is granted, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last
preceding date on which such a sale was reported. If the Company's Common Stock
is not listed on any Exchange but the Common Stock is quoted in the National
Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System on a last sale basis then the fair market value of the Stock
shall be deemed to be the mean between the high and low price reported on the
date the option is granted, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on
the last preceding date on which a sale was reported. If the Common Stock is not
quoted in the National Market System of the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System on a last sale basis, then the fair market
value of the Stock shall mean the amount determined by the Board to be the fair
market value based upon a good faith attempt to value the Stock accurately and
computed in accordance with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue
Service. In no event shall the option price be less than the par value per share
of Stock on the date an option is granted.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                          Exercise and Terms of Options
                          -----------------------------

         The Committee shall determine the dates after which options may be
exercised, in whole or in part. If an option is exercisable in installments,
installments or portions thereof which are exercisable and not exercised shall
remain exercisable.

         Any other provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding and
subject to ARTICLE VII, no option shall be exercised after the date ten years
from the date of grant of such option (the "Termination Date").

         Except as otherwise provided by the Committee at the time an option is
granted or by any amendment to an outstanding option:










                                       3



<PAGE>


         (i) If prior to the Termination Date, an optionee shall cease to be
employed by the Company or any subsidiary thereof by reason of a disability
within the meaning of Section 105(d)(4) of the Code, the option may remain
exercisable for a period not extending beyond one year after the date of
cessation of employment to the extent it was exercisable at the time of
cessation of employment.

         (ii) In the event of the death of an optionee prior to the Termination
Date and while employed by the Company or a subsidiary thereof or while entitled
to exercise an option pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the optionee's
options may remain exercisable at any time prior to the Termination Date but in
no event later than one year from the date of death, by the person or person to
whom the optionee's rights under the option pass by will or the applicable laws
of descent and distribution to the extent that the optionee was entitled to
exercise it on the date of death.

         (iii) If an optionee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company
for reasons other than death, disability, or retirement on or after the normal
retirement age set forth in the Company's policies (a "Voluntary Termination"),
or if an optionee's employment with the Company is terminated for Cause, as
hereinafter defined, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all options
previously granted to such optionee which have not been exercised prior to such
termination shall lapse and be cancelled. If at the time of a Voluntary
Termination the Company was entitled to terminate the optionee's employment for
Cause, as hereinafter defined, all shares of Stock received pursuant to options
exercised after the Company was so entitled shall be purchased by the Company
for the exercise price of such shares paid by the optionee. If the Company
terminates an optionee's employment without Cause, as hereinafter defined,
unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all options previously granted to
such optionee which were exercisable immediately prior to such termination shall
continue to be exercisable for period not extending beyond three months after
the date of such termination.

         For purposes of the Plan, the Company shall have "Cause" to terminate
an optionee's employment if the Company has cause to terminate the optionee's
employment under any existing employment agreement between the optionee and the
Company or, in the absence of an employment agreement between the optionee and
the Company, upon (A) the determination by the Board that the optionee has
ceased to perform his duties to the Company (other than as a result of his
incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury), which failure amounts
to an intentional and extended neglect of his duties to the Company, (B) the
Board's determination that the optionee has engaged or is about to engage in
conduct materially injurious to the Company, or (C) the optionee having been
convicted of a felony.








                                       4



<PAGE>




                                   ARTICLE VII

                        Special Provisions Applicable to
                          Incentive Stock Options Only
                          ----------------------------

         The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the
option is granted) of the Stock with respect to which any incentive stock
options may be exercisable for the first time by the optionee in any calendar
year (under this Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or any
parent or subsidiary thereof) shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that such
aggregate fair market value exceeds $100,000 such options or portions thereof
shall be non-qualified stock options.

         No incentive stock option may be granted to an individual who, at the
time the option is granted, owns directly, or indirectly within the meaning of
Section 424(d) of the Code, stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or
subsidiary thereof, unless such option (i) has an option price of at least 110
percent of the fair market value of the Stock on the date of the grant of such
option; and (ii) such option cannot be exercised more than five years after the
date it is granted.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               Payment for Shares
                               ------------------

         Payment for shares of Stock purchased under an option granted hereunder
shall be made in full upon exercise of the option, by certified or bank
cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, by the surrender or
delivery to the Company of shares of its Common Stock which have been held by
the optionee for at least six months, or by any other means acceptable to the
Company and designated by the Committee. The Stock purchased shall thereupon be
promptly delivered; provided, however, that the Company may, in its discretion,
require that an optionee pay to the Company, at the time of exercise, such
amount as the Company deems necessary to satisfy its obligation to withhold
Federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the exercise
or the transfer of shares thereupon.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                      Non-Transferability of Option Rights
                      ------------------------------------

         No option shall be transferable except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution. During the lifetime of the optionee, the option shall be
exercisable only by him.






                                       5


<PAGE>




                                    ARTICLE X

                  Adjustment for Recapitalization, Merger, Etc.
                  ---------------------------------------------

         The aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to
options granted hereunder, the maximum number of shares which may be granted to
any single optionee during any calendar year, the number of shares of Stock
covered by each outstanding option and the price per share thereof in each such
option shall be appropriately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of outstanding shares of stock resulting from a stock split or other
subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or for other capital adjustments
or payments of stock dividends or distributions or other increases or decreases
in the outstanding shares of Stock without receipt of consideration by the
Company.

         In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Stock by reason
of any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or
exchange of shares or other corporate change, or any distributions to common
shareholders other than cash dividends, the Committee shall make such
substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to the
number or kind of shares of Stock or other securities issued or reserved for
issuance pursuant to the Plan, and the number or kind of shares of Stock or
other securities covered by outstanding options, and the option price thereof.
In instances where another corporation or other business entity is being
acquired by the Company, and the Company has assumed outstanding employee option
grants and/or the obligation to make future or potential grants under a prior
existing plan of the acquired entity, similar adjustments are permitted at the
discretion of the Committee. The Committee shall notify optionees of any
intended sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets within a
reasonable time prior to such sale.

         The foregoing adjustments and the manner of application of the
foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion. Any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of any
fractional share which might otherwise become subject to an option.


                                   ARTICLE XI

                        No Obligation to Exercise Option
                        --------------------------------

         Granting of an option shall impose no obligation on the recipient to
exercise such option.










                                       6


<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE XII

                                 Use of Proceeds
                                 ---------------

         The proceeds received from the sale of Stock pursuant to the Plan shall
be used for general corporate purposes.


                                  ARTICLE XIII

                             Rights as a Stockholder
                             -----------------------

         An optionee or a transferee of an option shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any share covered by his option until he shall have
become the holder of record of such share, and he shall not be entitled to any
dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of such share for which
the record date is prior to the date on which he shall have become the holder of
record thereof.


                                   ARTICLE XIV

                                Employment Rights
                                -----------------

         Nothing in the Plan or in any option granted hereunder shall confer on
any optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries to terminate the optionee's employment at any time.


                                   ARTICLE XV

                             Compliance with the Law
                             -----------------------

         The Company is relieved from any liability for the non-issuance or
non-transfer or any delay in issuance or transfer of any shares of Stock subject
to options under the Plan which results from the inability of the Company to
obtain or in any delay in obtaining from any regulatory body having jurisdiction
all requisite authority to issue or transfer shares of Stock of the Company
either upon exercise of the options under the Plan or shares of Stock issued as
a result of such exercise if counsel for the Company deems such authority
necessary for lawful issuance or transfer of any such shares. Appropriate
legends may be placed on the stock certificates evidencing shares issued upon
exercise of options to reflect such transfer restrictions.









                                       7



<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE XVI

                             Cancellation of Options
                             -----------------------

         The Committee, in its discretion, may, with the consent of any
optionee, cancel any outstanding option hereunder.


                                  ARTICLE XVII

                             Expiration Date of Plan
                             -----------------------

         No option shall be granted hereunder after April 15, 2004.


                                  ARTICLE XVIII

                       Amendment or Discontinuance of Plan
                       -----------------------------------

         The Board may, without the consent of the Company's stockholders or
optionees under the Plan, at any time terminate the Plan entirely and at any
time or from time to time amend or modify the Plan, provided that no such action
shall adversely affect options theretofore granted hereunder without the
optionee's consent, and provided further that no such action by the Board,
without approval of the stockholders, may (a) increase the total number of
shares of Stock which may be purchased pursuant to options granted under the
Plan, except as contemplated in ARTICLE X or (b) decrease the minimum option
price.








                                       8






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