April 29, 2026

Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today announced its continued collaboration with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and support of its live Eye Pitch event, taking place at this year’s ARVO Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The pitch contest invites ARVO members to present their innovative research, drug or device proposals to a panel of judges from ARVO and the Alcon Seed Fund, an innovation acceleration platform that identifies and invests in early- and mid-stage disruptive innovations within the ophthalmic field.

“Looking at future innovation is critical to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and patients worldwide as we aim to advance the standard of eye care,” said Franck Leveiller, SVP, Global Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, Alcon. “Eye Pitch underscores our dedication to discovering and championing promising early-stage ophthalmic solutions that have the potential to impact clinical practice. Our collaboration with ARVO brings together a dynamic community of researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of vision science. The creativity and scientific rigor showcased through this program reinforce our optimism about what lies ahead — and our commitment to helping translate bold ideas into transformative care.”

Eye Pitch, hosted by ARVO and supported by Alcon, is a live competitive program held during the ARVO Annual Meeting that spotlights promising early- to mid-stage innovations in eye and vision research. ARVO members developing new treatments, devices, diagnostics and technologies submitted proposals for review by an expert panel, with finalists invited to deliver a five-minute pitch and participate in a live Q&A session. Finalists receive structured mentorship, and winners are awarded cash prizes. The overall winner is also invited to enter the Alcon Seed Fund diligence process for potential investment of up to $1 million to help advance breakthrough ophthalmic innovations aligned with Alcon’s strategic priorities.

Interest in the program continues to grow, with an increase of 43% from last year. Selected finalists will present on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. MT, followed by a networking reception.

“Being selected for Eye Pitch last year was a meaningful milestone for our team,” said Jonathan Labriola, PhD, Director of Operations at Synakis. “The mentorship helped us sharpen our scientific story and commercial strategy, and winning the competition brought valuable visibility to Synakis and reinforced the potential of our work. Connecting with leaders across vision science at ARVO made the experience especially rewarding.”

In addition to Eye Pitch, Alcon will also announce VisionX at ARVO 2026, which is a new global open innovation initiative of the Alcon Seed Fund designed to bring cross-disciplinary innovation into the industry. VisionX was created to identify breakthrough ideas emerging outside traditional ophthalmology including fields such as artificial intelligence, photonics, advanced materials, robotics, and computational imaging — and connect them to some of the most important challenges in vision science. By engaging researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs whose work may not currently focus on the eye, VisionX creates a structured pathway for early discovery, evaluation and potential advancement of novel technologies.

In addition to Eye Pitch and VisionX, Alcon will also support the Alcon Research Institute (ARI), which will host the annual Steven M. Podos Colloquium on Saturday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. MT at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center. The event will feature leading experts, including Dr. Lisa Ostrin, SUNY College of Optometry, and Dr. Jay Neitz, University of Washington School of Medicine, who will participate in a session titled “Myopia Progression: Mechanisms & Management.” The session will be moderated by Dr. Allen C. Ho, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, ARI Chair. Learn more and register on the ARI website, and visit Alcon at Booth #8001 in the ARVO Exhibition Hall.

For more information on the Eye Pitch event, visit arvo.org/annual-meeting/eye-pitch. For more information on the Alcon Seed Fund, please visit alcon.com/alcon-seed-fund. For more information on the Vision-X, please visit alcon.com/vision-x.

About Alcon

Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of people in over 140 countries and territories each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.

Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Relations

Steven Smith
+ 41 589 112 111 (Geneva)
+ 1 817 551 8057 (Fort Worth)
[email protected]