Benefiting Customers and Patients
Our innovation is underpinned by our commitment to patient safety, product quality, and increasing access to the life-changing benefits of eye care.
Medical Innovation
Alcon has made one of the largest commitments to research and development (R&D) in the eye care industry. Our market leading position gives us access to a wide range of potential R&D projects, and it makes Alcon an attractive collaborator for
industry partnerships and start-up initiatives. We manage our innovation pipeline with a stage-gate model that aligns global standards required in product development and potential impacts on our commercial programs. This process reduces the technical,
clinical, regulatory, and market risks of a new idea while increasing its odds for commercial success.
Highlight story: Polymer Chemistry in Vision Care
Alcon’s Vision Care business has built a reputation for being the leader in innovative polymer chemistry for contact lenses. This competency has led to meaningful innovations that improve the handling, use, and comfort of contact lenses.
DAILIES TOTAL1 is the only lens with true water gradient technology that contains 100% water at the surface of the lens. This feature enables a level of comfort and visual acuity that feels like nothing at all is on the eye. This unique
lens structure increases water content, so all that touches the patient’s eye is a cushion of moisture. In addition, Alcon has created SMARTEARS technology to intuitively release natural ingredients that stabilize the tear film to
prevent tear evaporation.
Building off of this scientific base, in 2019 Alcon launched a mass market SiHy daily disposable contact lens called PRECISION1. Founded on the same principles of polymer chemistry as DAILIES TOTAL1, PRECISION1 meets the needs of a young,
active population that expects their lenses to keep up with their lifestyle.
Our expertise in polymer chemistry has paved the way for the most innovative contact lens technology in Alcon’s history. This technology provides the foundation to deliver unique product solutions that meet a number of known clinical and
patient needs.
Highlight Story: ACTIVE SENTRY
The management of fluids during a cataract procedure is essential to a safe and effective removal of the cataract lens. Through ultrasonic technology, a dense cataract can be emulsified. During this process, a significant amount of heat
is generated, and saline fluids are used to cool, flush, and stabilize the closed anterior chamber of the eye. In this closed, soft tissue environment, fluid management becomes the essential factor to the success of the surgical procedure.
Over Alcon’s rich history in cataract surgery, our engineers have mastered the balance between inflow and outflow of this closed system. The recently introduced ACTIVE SENTRY handpiece, an enhancement to the CENTURION Vision System, integrates
a miniature pressure sensor within the handpiece. This sensor continuously monitors pressure at the surgery site, allowing for almost instantaneous detection of vacuum breaks or fluid surges. Sophisticated software algorithms enable
the system to rapidly employ countermeasures to minimize resulting movement within the eye. This innovative, first-to-market technology provides an added measure of confidence and consistency for the surgeon and safety for the patient.
Our results
In 2019, Alcon received 58 product approvals in our major global markets and introduced 14 first-to-market launches. We also filed more than 100 new patent applications to protect Alcon’s assets and investments.
For more information on our innovation, please visit Alcon’s Innovation site.
For more information about our corporate governance, Board and leadership team, please visit Alcon’s Investor Relations site.
Product Quality & Patient Safety
Product quality and patient safety are vitally important for Alcon and the medical device industry at-large.
Compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulations is critical to Alcon’s viability, and limiting the incidence of product quality and safety issues puts us in a better position to help people see brilliantly. Our Quality Management System uses industry- recognized risk management standards to mitigate risks and reliably produce high quality products
Our results
Our Global sites continue to demonstrate a positive compliance posture through inspections from health authorities and notified bodies demonstrating a solid quality management system. In the last five years, we’ve had neither any FDA- initiated Class
1 recalls nor serious findings from regulatory authorities.
Access, Affordability, & Pricing
We are committed to increasing access to eye care, and we work with healthcare decision-makers to bring our products and services to more people.
As we develop new products, we strive to provide affordable eye care for customers and patients around the world by factoring our value to clinicians, reimbursement mechanism and funding flow and the market landscape and global environment.
Highlight story: Bridging the Access Gap
Phacoemulsification (phaco) is the preferred standard of care in cataract surgery. However, in low- to middle-income countries, access to this technology is affected by the lack of training and limited purchasing power. To increase access
to phaco, Alcon provides skills development through our Phaco Development (PD) Program, where a dedicated team of 200+ phaco development specialists supports surgeon training in Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia,
and Nepal.
In addition to skills training, Alcon also develops products to address the specific needs of certain developing markets. In 2019, Alcon introduced the LEGION system to help fill the gap in access to phacoemulsification surgery. This affordable
system brings some of the advanced features of the CENTURION system, combined with greater serviceability, durability, and portability to developing markets.
By recognizing global population health dynamics and applying thoughtful innovation, Alcon can serve a broader range of patients in countries where costs inhibit access to quality eye care.
Our results
Alcon tracks our product price performance in the markets we serve, as well as our incremental reimbursement success rate. In some markets, like Brazil and the US, the weighted average price of our products increased as we launched new product innovation,
while our prices decreased in other markets such as India and Spain.
Philanthropy
Alcon’s products have significant positive impacts on our customers and patients, and our philanthropic efforts connect to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of “No Poverty”. Improving or restoring a patient’s sight can provide a huge economic benefit,
not only to the patient who can return to the workforce, but also to caregivers and the broader community.
The primary focus of Alcon’s philanthropy is capacity building. We enhance the skills of optometrists, ophthalmologists, and medical professionals around the world to provide treatments and perform eye surgeries. Alcon directs our charitable contributions
to eligible non-profit organizations through two separate entities: the Alcon Foundation, which provides monetary donations, and Alcon Cares, which provides product and equipment donations for medical missions and capacity building around the world.
Through Alcon in Action, a global day of volunteerism, our associates work toward a common goal of taking action in our communities. We also bring activities onsite to provide volunteer options for associates who cannot leave campus. In 2019, 4,000 associates
from 40 sites volunteered at 45 community organizations during our first standalone Alcon in Action day, and many continue to volunteer at those organizations today.
Alcon’s 40th Anniversary with Orbis
Orbis, an NGO dedicated to saving sight worldwide by training eye care professionals in low- and middle-income countries, is a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. Through its Flying Eye Hospital, award- winning
telemedicine platform, Cybersight, and long-term country programs, Orbis and its legions of volunteers and partners help establish and strengthen sustainable eye care in communities around the world. For 40 years, Alcon has been donating
ophthalmic equipment, pharmaceuticals, and supplies for Orbis global programs. Biomedical engineers and technicians from Alcon have also shared their technical skills and knowledge to help Orbis partners operate and maintain equipment
and strengthen local eye care infrastructure. The Alcon Foundation has sponsored Orbis training programs in China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Panama, Peru, and Vietnam.
For more information, please visit Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility site.