Alcon Research Goals

Alcon Laboratories Research We take a lot of pride in our commitment to blindness prevention, through the treatment of eye diseases and conditions, as well as vision preservation, restoration and enhancement. Although much of our work occurs inside the laboratory, we are encouraged by the impact our contributions make on patients and the community. It's clear from the caliber of people we hire and the financial commitment Alcon makes to research and development that discovering and developing the most advanced solutions to improve eye health is at the core of our mission.

Our Researchers

Alcon has nearly 2,000 associates dedicated to research and development around the world working to address the world’s most pressing eye care needs. Our dedication to eye care extends to professional education at a level unmatched in the industry. Our research and development associates, in addition to having a broad range of experience in the biological and physical sciences, have extensive experience in applying their knowledge to the fields of ophthalmologic and optometric science. Many have academic or practitioner backgrounds to complement commercial experience.

Our Investment

Over the next five years, Alcon plans to invest approximately USD 4 billion to discover and develop new treatment solutions for vision conditions and eye diseases. With the merger into Novartis, Alcon has gained access to additional research capabilities and resources, including the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, as well as the R&D pipeline of CIBA VISION.

Research Capacity

Our three research groups at Alcon focus on the discovery and identification of potential new eye care therapies and treatments for tomorrow. Through the Consumer Vision Care, Ophthalmology Discovery and Surgical Products Research groups we have the ability to screen a vast number of compounds and review a wide array of therapeutic surgical designs and related instruments each year.

In the later stages, we rely heavily on our development organization and relationships with clinicians around the world to conduct large-scale clinical trials. Working closely with clinical groups, our regulatory affairs and marketing staff ensure that our development efforts meet the needs of doctors and their patients as well as those of regulatory bodies worldwide.

The Importance of Partnerships

Collaboration is key. We recognize our success lies not only in our efforts, but in our partnerships with academic institutions, industry organizations and individuals who also work tirelessly to offer the best in vision care. We've had many successes with licensing compounds and surgical technologies and recognize this as the most efficient path to solving eye care needs in many cases and complementary to our own internal development efforts.

Research Facilities

Alcon scientists and engineers work with state-of-the-art technology in facilities located in the United States, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. This means we have access not only to the best technologies, but also to the best minds in ophthalmology research.

William C. Conner Research Center

At the core of Alcon's scientific and technological commitment is the William C. Conner Research Center located at Alcon's headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. This 650,000 square foot facility is the world's most sophisticated eye care research and development facility.

Irvine Technology Center

Located in Irvine, California, the Irvine Technology Center focuses on designing and developing surgical instrumentation for cataract and vitreoretinal surgical specialties.

Erlangen, Germany

WaveLight Technology Center in Erlangen, Germany, develops and manufactures a wide range of process-oriented solutions for refractive laser surgery. Surgeons can choose from several products for every segment of the surgical process and customize technology precisely to their individual needs.