- The milestone highlights three decades of precision manufacturing and surgical advancements by WaveLight
- Wavelight plus, the first fully personalized laser vision correction treatment, sets a high standard in eye care1,2*
- Facilities in Erlangen, Pressath and Teltow, Germany, play a central role in developing next-generation ophthalmic technologies, including WaveLight platforms
PRESSATH, GERMANY, 17 June 2026 – Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today commemorated its WaveLight manufacturing and R&D facility’s 30-year milestone at its Pressath, Germany, location, celebrating three decades of innovation, precision engineering, and the company’s commitment to advancing quality eye care.
The anniversary celebrationoffered a firsthand look at technologies, including wavelight plus, the first fully personalized laser vision correction (LVC) of its kind.1 It is an advanced Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) technology that considers a patients’ individual eye shape and vision needs.1 As the leader in global excimer procedures, LASIK can correct vision to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses.3,4 Alcon’s facilities in Erlangen, Pressath and Teltow, Germany, are making an important contribution to manufacture the technologies for the WaveLight procedures.
“For 30 years, our WaveLight facilities in Germany have been at the heart of advancing innovation in refractive surgery, bringing together high-performance engineering, manufacturing and R&D excellence, and a passion for improving sight,” said Jason Mangum, Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Technical Operations, Surgical, Alcon. “This milestone reflects the dedication of our teams and underscores Alcon’s commitment to helping people see brilliantly.”
Today, Pressath, as well as WaveLight Erlangen and Teltow, play critical roles in supporting the ophthalmological technology development and production of WaveLight platforms worldwide, including Alcon’s latest advancements in personalized laser vision correction enabled by wavelight plus— the first fully tailored refractive treatment that considers each patient’s unique optical system. 1,2,* Real-world data shows that this technology delivers unprecedented patient outcomes with 100% of eyes achieved Uncorrected Distance Visual Acuity (UDVA) of 20/20, 89% of eyes achieved 20/16, and 50% achieved 20/12.5 at three months.1,2,5,6,** Studies also show that 99% of patients were satisfied with their wavelight plus results and would recommend it to others.2,*,†, ◊
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This milestone not only celebrates the heritage of innovation at Pressath, but also reflects continued investment in the future, ensuring the facility and its sister sites in Erlangen and Teltow remain at the forefront of refractive technology manufacturing.
“We are proud to operate in Germany — first in Erlangen, and now in Pressath and Teltow. Thanks to the strong commitment of our teams in Germany, we are able to successfully advance WaveLight technologies on a global scale. We remain focused on delivering sight-correcting innovations and supporting the next generation of technologies that will help shape the future of eye care,” said Thomas O’Neil, Vice President, WaveLight Site Head, Alcon.
The anniversary celebration was very well received by the local community and industry professionals. Attendees included community stakeholders such as Andreas Reindl, Mayor of Pressath; Albert Nickl, Deputy District Administrator of Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab (stellvertr. Landrat); Professor Bernhard Schmauss, FAU Erlangen, Department Elektrotechnik-Elektronik-Informationstechnik (EEI) Lehrstuhl fĂĽr Hochfrequenztechnik; and Mathias Schuch, Head of the Economic Development and Employment Department, Erlangen.
“WaveLight is an integral part of Pressath – shaping our region far beyond its borders,” said Andreas Reindl, Mayor of Pressath. “Congratulations on this 30-year milestone, and I’m excited about what the future holds.”
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 more than 260 million 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.
* 3 months post-op, n=212 eyes.
**In a real-world private practice setting-200 patients (400 eyes).
†In a clinical study; based on responses to the question “Would you recommend LASIK surgery to a friend or family member?” on the PROWL questionnaire at 3 months post-op; n=106 Consult your doctor on relevant safety information about the treatment.
â—ŠIn a prospective study including 212 eyes.
References
1. Mrochen M, Bueler M, Donitzky C, Seiler T. Optical ray tracing for the calculation of optimized corneal ablation profiles in refractive treatment planning. J Refract Surg. 2008;24:S446-S451. REF-06628.
2. Kanellopoulos AJ, Maus M, Bala C, Hamilton C, Lemonis S, Jockovich ME, Khoramnia R. International Multicenter, Myopic and Myopic Astigmatism Femto LASIK, Customized by Automated Ray-Tracing Ablation Profile Calculation: A Post Market Study. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:525-536. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S435581. REF-23720.
3. Market Scope – 2025 Excimer Laser Market Report
4. Mayo Clinic. “LASIK Eye Surgery.” Mayo Clinic, updated 2025, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774. REF-16191.
5. InnovEyes™ Sightmap Diagnostic Device User Manual 1089. REF-03359.
6. He C, Bala C. Ray tracing guided myopic laser in situ keratomileusis – real world clinical outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2023;10-1097. REF-24898.
