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Alcon Industries history
Alcon Industries company history timeline
1978 – Swiss food company Nestlé acquires Alcon.
1979 – Alcon begins an ongoing partnership with ORBIS International* to bring eye care services and health care provider training to impoverished communities worldwide.
1982 – The William C. Conner Research Center is established, helping Alcon significantly expand research into treatments for eye diseases and disorders.
1988 – Alcon acquires Sharpoint, Inc., expanding its surgical manufacturing capabilities.
1989 Launch of NewVue (Focus), Alcon’s first soft contact lens exclusively for periodic replacement
1989 – Alcon purchases CooperVision Surgical and combines them with its existing operations to become the world’s leading ophthalmic surgical company.
1990 – Alcon’s Irvine Technology Center, the world’s foremost center for the development of ophthalmic instrumentation, opens in California.
1994 – The FDA approves Alcon’s AcrySof® intraocular lens (IOL), representing the first time a material had been developed specifically for an IOL. Today, Alcon’s portfolio of AcrySof® IOLs are the world’s most frequently implanted lenses.
1997– Alcon introduces Patanol® ophthalmic solution, now the leading prescription eye drop for treating allergic conjunctivitis.
1997– Tim Sear, a longtime leader in Alcon’s international expansion, becomes the company’s third president and CEO.
2000 Alcon introduces OPTI-FREE® EXPRESS® solution for cleaning and disinfecting soft contact lenses
2000 – Alcon acquires Summit Autonomous and Grieshaber to enter the refractive laser market and expand its line of retinal surgery instruments.
2001 – Alcon introduces TRAVATAN® ophthalmic solution for lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.
2004 CIBA VISION launches O2OPTIX™ (later re-branded as AIR OPTIX®), a high oxygen transmissibility, breathable monthly replacement contact lens
2006 – Alcon significantly expands its glaucoma and cataract treatments with TRAVATAN Z® ophthalmic solution, which lowers intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients and the AcrySof® Toric IOL for cataract patients withastigmatism.
2007 – Alcon expands its product portfolio for LASIK surgery through regulatory clearance to purchase Wavelight AG.
2008 Alcon introduces the CONSTELLATION® Vision System for vitreoretinal surgery
2008 – Alcon launches the company’s first nasal product, Patanase® nasal spray, to treat nasal allergy symptoms and AcrySof® line expansions with the Phakic and IQ ReSTOR® +3.0 D IOLs.
2008 – Novartis purchases approximately 25 percent of Nestlé’s stake in Alcon, becoming its second largest shareholder.
2009 – Alcon’s leading brand of intraocular lenses (IOLs), AcrySof®, exceeds 40 million implants.
2009 – Alcon Laboratories, Inc., the United States subsidiary of Alcon, is recognized for the 11th consecutive year as one of FORTUNE’s “Best Companies To Work For.”
2010 Alcon expands its cataract surgical portfolio with the acquisition of LenSx Lasers, Inc.
Novartis also retains the option to purchase the remaining 52 percent of Nestlé’s ownership of Alcon beginning in 2010.
2011 Alcon launches the world’s first-and-only water gradient daily disposable contact lens, DAILIES TOTAL1®
2011 – The boards of Novartis and Alcon complete its merger agreement, giving Novartis 100 percent ownership of Alcon.
2012 – Alcon enters into a strategic licensing agreement with ThromboGenics to commercialize ocriplasmin outside the United States Ocriplasmin has the potential to become the first pharmacological treatment for vitreomacular traction (VMT) and macular hole.
2013 Alcon launches its most advanced phacoemulsification technology platform, the CENTURION® Vision System
2014 Alcon introduces AIR OPTIX® COLORS contact lenses, a monthly replacement color- enhancing lens with silicone hydrogel technology, now available in nine natural-looking colors
2014 Alcon acquires the developer of the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) SYSTEM®, the first commercialized intra-operative aberrometry system for cataract surgery, which has now been used in more than two million cases worldwide
2015 The first Alcon Experience Center (AEC), an eye health education and training center, opens.
2015 Alcon launches next generation hydrogen peroxide lens care solution, AOSEPT® PLUS with HydraGlyde® Solution (CLEAR CARE® PLUS in North America)
2016 DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses launch, the first-and-only water gradient contact lenses for people with presbyopia
In April 2019, Alcon became an independent, publicly traded company with shares trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “ALC.”
In 2019, the company announced its initial commercial launch and Food and Drug Administration approval of the first trifocal lens for United States patients undergoing cataract surgery.
In 2019, Alcon began a grant and coaching program for women entrepreneurs to start and propel their business visions.
2019 The introduction of PRECISION1® silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses offers lasting visual performance and comfort at a mainstream price
2020 Alcon launches AcrySof® IQ Vivity® IOL, a first of its kind wavefront-shaping presbyopia-correcting extended depth of focus IOL with excellent vision and a monofocal-like visual disturbance profile
2021 Alcon acquires US commercialization rights for Simbrinza®, expanding its glaucoma presence 2021 Launch of TOTAL30® contact lenses, the first-and-only monthly replacement, water gradient lens that feels like nothing, even on day 30
2022 Alcon completes the acquisition of Ivantis and brings the Hydrus® Microstent, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device, into the Surgical portfolio
2022 Launch of SYSTANE® COMPLETE Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops in an easy-to-use multi-dose bottle.
2022 Alcon announces the roll out of the CLAREON® family of IOLs, featuring the novel CLAREON material that can deliver consistent visual outcomes
2022 Alcon introduces Fidelis Virtual Reality (VR) Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator, a portable VR tool for cataract surgeons-in-training
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Alcon Industries competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTD Manufacturing | 1979 | $12.0M | 50 | 4 |
| Roll·Rite | 1991 | $1.1M | 12 | - |
| Genzink Steel | 1961 | $21.0M | 68 | - |
| AT&F | 1940 | $183.5M | 100 | 11 |
| Crary Industries | 1979 | $53.7M | 200 | - |
| LDI Industries | 1963 | $3.1M | 50 | - |
| AKG | 1947 | $360,000 | 170 | 10 |
| McLaughlin Body | 1902 | $14.9M | 450 | 16 |
| Roll-Kraft | 1963 | $290,000 | 7 | - |
| Helac | 1968 | $130.0M | 15,000 | - |
Alcon Industries history FAQs
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Alcon Industries may also be known as or be related to Alcon Industries, Alcon Industries Inc and Alcon Industries, Inc.