OPHTHALMOLOGY TIMES WINS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS NEAL AWARD

CLEVELAND, OHIO - March 20, 2003 - Advanstar Communications Inc. announced that its Ophthalmology Times magazine was awarded the coveted Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence from the American Business Media (ABM). Ophthalmology Times Editor-in Chief Mark Dlugoss accepted the award in front of hundreds of business publishing peers at the awards luncheon in New York City on March 12.

Ophthalmology Times received top-honors in the Best Single Issue of a Newspaper/News Tabloid category beating Post-Newsweek Tech Media Group's Government Computer News and IDG/Network World Publishing's Network World. The winning entry was Ophthalmology Times' October 15, 2002 issue.

The winning Ophthalmology Times editorial and design team includes Mark Dlugoss, Sheryl Stevenson, Julia Talsma, Laura Blake, and Helen Thams -- each are based in Advanstar's Cleveland office.

The team also earned a Certificate of Merit in the competition's Best Regularly Featured Department or Column category for its InDispensable column.

Ophthalmology Times has been a Neal award finalist five times in the last six years. This is the magazine's third time to win the Neal Award.

Ophthalmology Times is the leading physician-reviewed newsmagazine in the ophthalmic market, delivering the most well-rounded package of surgical and clinical news, industry trends, dispensing and practice information, and insights and discoveries in all specialties.

The Jesse H. Neal Awards were created 49 years ago to recognize and reward excellence in independent business publications. The awards are named after ABM's first managing director who remained active in promoting the business press throughout his life. The Neal Awards are presented annually to those editors who have submitted entries exhibiting journalistic enterprise, extent of service to the field and editorial craftsmanship.

Advanstar Communications Inc. is a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions. Advanstar has 105 business magazines and directories, 80 tradeshows and conferences, numerous Web sites, and a wide range of direct marketing, database and reference products and services. Advanstar serves targeted market sectors in such industries as art, automotive, beauty, collaboration/e-learning, CRM/call center, digital media, entertainment/marketing, fashion & apparel, healthcare, manufacturing and processing, pharmaceutical, powersports, science, telecommunications and travel/hospitality. The Company has nearly 1,300 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.advanstar.com. # # #