Innovation
We have created an unrivaled eye care R&D engine, product pipeline, and production footprint to deliver new solutions that restore or enhance vision, advance clinical practice, and improve the customer and patient experience.
1.8 B
have presbyopia1
_________
WHAT CAUSES PRESBYOPIA?
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to actively focus on close objects. It occurs with the natural course of aging – generally starting around the age of 40 – and requires some form of vision correction to deal with its effect.
65 M
with moderate to severe vision
impairment due to cataracts1
_________
WHAT CAUSES CATARACTS?
Most cataracts develop from advanced aging.2 As the body ages, the lens of the eye, which consists of water and protein, can become cloudy due to protein clumping together, scattering the light landing on the retina and causing visual impairment. When the cataract blocks light, vision is disrupted.3
153 M
with uncorrected
refractive errors4
_________
THE BURDEN OF UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS
More than 12.8 million children globally, ages 5 to 15, are visually impaired due to uncorrected refractive errors as a result of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism – conditions which, with a simple eye exam, can be treated with contact lenses or surgical procedure.5
1.4 B
people worldwide live
with dry eyes6
_________
WHAT CAUSES DRY EYES?
Dry eyes are caused by a lack of sufficient moisture in the eyes because of an inadequate quality or quantity of tears.7 If the eyes are not lubricated enough, either by low quantity or poor quality of tears, it causes discomfort and leads to irritation.
Experience Our Range of Products
As the global leader in eye care, we continue to expand our leadership in delivering life-changing eye care products and technologies around the world. Explore each category for information about our range of products and other resources.
Contact Lenses & Solutions
Contact lenses are a way to get clear vision while having the freedom and flexibility to move in many environments. Find the right contact lenses and contact lens solution for your vision and lifestyle needs.
I want to learn more as a
Eye Care Products
Discover products for all aspects of vision care. From dry eyes to eye allergies, find relief or manage your eye health with our eye care products.
I want to read more as a
Cataracts
Cataracts occur when protein accumulates in the lens of the eye, resulting in blurred or hazy vision. Cataracts are a common and natural part of aging, but there are many options for addressing cataracts, along with improved vision.
I want to read more as a
Glaucoma
LASIK & Refractive Technology
LASIK, or laser eye surgery, is a procedure to treat common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Refractive Technology is used in corrective eye surgery of refractive errors like hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. Find advanced tools and devices to meet the requirements of both your therapeutic procedures and your patients.
I want to read more as a
Vitreoretinal
Vitreoretinal surgery restores, preserves and enhances vision for eye conditions affecting the retina, macula and vitreous fluid. Explore the most comprehensive portfolio of innovative ophthalmic surgical products to achieve optimal results.
I want to read more as a
Featured Story
How Fortifying the Patient-Provider Relationship Leads to Lasting Contact Lens Satisfaction
At Alcon, we aspire to lead the world in eye care innovation. We are committed to helping eye care professionals strengthen their practices and better serve patients, so that everyone can see and live brilliantly. Alcon’s Kristin K. Anderson, OD, FNAP, FAAO, Director of Professional Education, recently caught up with Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, FSLS Diplomate, CCLRT, AAO Diplomate, American Board of Optometry, and Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO, to discuss how forming closer relationships with patients can lead to greater satisfaction with contact lenses and overall eye health.
How Fortifying the Patient-Provider Relationship Leads to Lasting Contact Lens Satisfaction
At Alcon, we aspire to lead the world in eye care innovation. We are committed to helping eye care professionals strengthen their practices and better serve patients, so that everyone can see and live brilliantly. Alcon’s Kristin K. Anderson, OD, FNAP, FAAO, Director of Professional Education, recently caught up with Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, FSLS Diplomate, CCLRT, AAO Diplomate, American Board of Optometry, and Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO, to discuss how forming closer relationships with patients can lead to greater satisfaction with contact lenses and overall eye health.
A Pipeline for the Future
R&D is the foundation for how we improve people’s lives. At Alcon, we’ve made one of the largest R&D commitments of any eye care company, with 1,800 associates worldwide researching and developing treatments for vision conditions and eye diseases. In addition to our in-house R&D capabilities, we consider external innovation opportunities and routinely screen for companies developing emerging technologies that could enhance our existing product offerings or lead to innovative new products for eye disorders. Our pipeline has never been stronger as we aim to strengthen our Vision Care and Surgical portfolios.
External Innovation Opportunities
Do you have an innovation to help people see brilliantly?
Alcon has multiple mechanisms (ARI, ASF and BD&L) that support investment and partnerships to bring impactful products to patients around the world, each focusing on different stages of development and levels of interest.
ALCON RESEARCH INSTITUTE
In 1981, Alcon set out to help support research in eye health and to expand the frontiers of vision sciences globally – from this concept Alcon Research Institute (ARI) was born. Since then, the ARI has had a significant impact on the study of ocular diseases and has become a bridge to building partnerships with leading researchers around the world.
ALCON SEED FUND
The Alcon Seed Fund identifies and invests in early stage, disruptive innovation within the ophthalmic field. ASF complements Alcon's existing Alcon Research Institute (ARI) and Business Development and Licensing (BD&L) efforts by partnering with external companies to fill portfolio gaps, enhance the development pipeline, and extend research opportunities.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & LICENSING
Alcon Business Development and Licensing (BD&L) is recognized as a preferred innovation partner in ophthalmology and eye care. BD&L is equipped to engage with external companies through a variety of different mechanisms, from emerging technologies to mature opportunities.
Training and Education
Alcon provides Eye Care Professionals comprehensive eye health education, hands-on experiential learning opportunities and cutting-edge virtual reality technology for immersive training experiences at our state-of-the-art facilities around the world.
We offer 9 Alcon Experience Centers (AECs), 26 training centers and 42 wet labs from Fort Worth, Texas, to Barcelona, Spain, all with a focus on helping more people See Brilliantly.
Training and Education
Alcon provides Eye Care Professionals comprehensive eye health education, hands-on experiential learning opportunities and cutting-edge virtual reality technology for immersive training experiences at our state-of-the-art facilities around the world.
We offer 9 Alcon Experience Centers (AECs), 26 training centers and 42 wet labs from Fort Worth, Texas, to Barcelona, Spain, all with a focus on helping more people See Brilliantly.
REFERENCES
1. WHO. World Report on Vision. 2019.
2. American Academy of Ophthalmolgoy. What are Cataracts. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts [link] [Accessed October 2024].
3. Web MD. A Visual Guide to Cataracts. https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/ss/slideshow-cataracts [link][Accessed October 2024].
4. Source: World Health Organization ("WHO"). Online Q&A. 2013
5. National Center for Biotechnology Information, Global magnitude of visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive errors in 2004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647357/ [link] [Accessed October 2024].
6. MarketScope: 2020 Dry Eye Products Market Report.
7. National Eye Institute. Dry Eye. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye [link] [Accessed October 2024].