Alcon receives FDA approval for new cataract product

Fort Worth-based Alcon on Dec. 23 announced it plans to commercialize a new Intraocular Lens (IOL) products designed to address presbyopia and pre-existing corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery in adult patients starting in the first quarter of 2017.

Alcon, a global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, said it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +3.0D Multifocal Toric IOL. The new IOL is designed to address presbyopia and pre-existing corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery in adult patients who desire good near, intermediate and distance vision with an increased potential for spectacle independence. The product is already commercially available in the European Union, Australia, Canada, and many countries in Central and South America and Asia.

“The AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +3.0D Multifocal Toric IOL is an important addition to our market-leading IOL portfolio, and broadens our offering of presbyopia- and astigmatism-correcting lenses to meet the different visual needs of patients,” said Sergio Duplan, Alcon Region President for North America. “We are committed to delivering ongoing innovation that enables surgeons to provide the best possible outcome for their patients.”

Nearly four million cataract surgeries are performed each year in the United States, and more than 50 percent of those patients have levels of astigmatism that could be addressed with these new IOLs, according to a news release from Alcon. Worldwide, nearly 1.7 billion people experience near vision issues due to presbyopia, an eye condition that involves the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to actively focus on close objects. Due to the aging population, this number is expected to soar to more than 2 billion people with presbyopia by 2020, according to the news release.

- FWBP Digital Partners -

Alcon plans to commercialize AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +3.0D Multifocal Toric IOLs in the United States on a rolling basis starting in the first quarter of 2017.

On Dec. 20, Swiss drug maker Novartis announced it was acquiring Fort Worth-based eye care firm Encore Vision Inc. Encore Vision has developed a topical treatment for presbyopia patients, or people with far-sightedness.