FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2006--Alcon, Inc.
(NYSE:ACL) announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration
(FDA) has approved its LADAR6000(TM) Excimer Laser with high speed
ablation for use in LASIK and PRK refractive surgery. With a 50%
faster ablation rate than previous LADARVISION(R) platforms, the
LADAR6000(TM) laser significantly decreases surgical time, especially
in higher refractive correction ranges, and results in less exposure
of the corneal flap. The LADAR6000(TM) laser, developed on a flexible
platform to allow for future upgrades, also includes a number of
enhancements that are designed to improve overall system performance,
ease of use, and patient flow.
The FDA also granted the industry's broadest wavefront-guided
hyperopic indication for Alcon's CUSTOMCORNEA(R) procedure on both
the LADAR6000(TM) laser and the LADARVision(R) 4000 System. With
this approval, doctors are able to treat hyperopia and hyperopic
astigmatism (+0.75D to +5.00D sphere with up to -3.00D cylinder)
in addition to the current range for myopia and myopic astigmatism.
About Alcon
Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company with sales
of $4.4 billion in 2005. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the
ophthalmic industry for more than 50 years, develops, manufactures
and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contacts
lens care solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases,
disorders and other conditions of the eye. For more information
on Alcon, Inc., visit the Company's Web site at www.alconinc.com.
