One-offs, probes and global economics mar results
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Alcon's sales growth was fuelled by its pharmaceuticals business: sales of surgical products rose by a modest 5.8% to $345m. The refractive business was hit by global economic conditions and weak consumer confidence but the company hopes the recent approval of its CustomCornea technology for wavefront-guided ablation will help improve sales. Nevertheless, it admits the business is likely to remain depressed in the current economic climate. Sales of intraocular lenses and of cataract and vitrectomy equipment, the two largest areas, both grew by more than 10%.