In HindSight January 2016 - ARA | Alcon Retiree`s Association

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Volume 16, Number 1
January, 2016
Index
President’s Letter
United Way
Alcon Introduces DAILIES
TOTAL1® in Plus Powers
Preceptorship Program
Jeff Young’s Mission Trip
Arthur Chan’s Mission Trip
Contoura Vision
EuroVision Reunion
Orbis Flying Eye Hospital
World Sight Day
Alcon Time Line, Part 1
Kevin Buehler Letter
P. 1
P. 2
P. 3
P. 4
P. 5
P. 5
P. 6
P. 7
P. 7
P. 8
P. 10
P. 11
President’s Letter
Dear ARA Members,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone’s 2016 is off
to a great start and the recent holidays were
peaceful and joyous for you.
Dates for this year’s ARA luncheons on the
Alcon Fort Worth campus are now reserved.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.
They are all on Mondays — March 21st, June
20th, and September 19th.
The annual Christmas Lupper will be in early
December, though the date is not set. Our ARA
luncheons are a wonderful opportunity to catch up
with colleagues and friends, as well as enjoy
informative speaker programs. By the way,
pictures from the recent 2015 Lupper are now
posted in the ARA Photo Gallery. Please log in to
our ARA website and check them out (many
thanks to Gary Vick for the great shots).
With this newsletter, we are very pleased to
have Pat Cappelletti become our ARA Newsletter
Editor. As Pat takes over from Mary Dulle, she will
be very glad to receive any and all retiree news to
publish during the year and articles describing your
fun adventures traveling or activities around home.
Once again, we express our many thanks to Mary
for preparing and editing the excellent ARA
newsletters in the past years.
In this In HindSight edition, Kevin Buehler
shares an update on the latest United Way
initiatives and ways for all retirees stay involved
with United Way activities. Thanks for taking a look
at this informative article.
Lastly, as always, please be sure to watch the
ARA website — www.alcon-ara.com — for
announcements and dates for upcoming events
and activities.
I look forward to seeing all ARA members at
the March 21st luncheon.
With warm regards,
Brad
August
Acosta, Raul J., Field Non-Sales
Allen, Alice A., Sinking Spring, PA
Brabant, Linda M., Sinking Spring
Clark, Susan M., Fort Worth, TX
Deininger, Joan, Sinking Spring
Jackson, Cindy L., Fort Worth
Jarrell, Larry S., Huntington, WV
McIver, Debra L., Fort Worth
Michaels, Blake D., Fort Worth
Mount, Delores, Huntington
Ott, Patricia A., Sinking Spring
Padilla, Maria, Irvine, CA
Pierce, Dale W., Fort Worth
Rentschler, Charles F., Sinking Spring
Solomon, Laura L., Fort Worth
Continued on P. 2
Photo Gallery
Photos from recent ARA events are
posted on the ARA website. Please login to
the Members Section and click on the News
tab to find the link to the Gallery.
ARA Website
Want to see more? Go to this website:
http://www.alcon-ara.com for all the latest
information.
The site is updated between
newsletters, so you might want to bookmark
it and check from time to time.
Continued on P. 4
2016 ARA Luncheons
Mark your calendars for March 21, June
20, and September 19th — our quarterly
ARA luncheons. All are held in the
Crossroads Cafe on the Alcon Forth Worth
campus.
All ARA members, spouses, and guests
are welcome to attend. Lunch is
complimentary for retirees, whereas all
others pay at the cafeteria cashier.
Continued on P. 4
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In HindSight, Page 2
January 2016
UNITED WAY – A New Way Forward
Many of you supported United Way for
many years during your employment at
Alcon. Many of you have historically viewed
United Way as a worthwhile organization
focused on raising community funds for
support to other agencies. Thank you!
This article provides a summary on the
new direction for United Way, a link for a
letter from retired CEO Kevin Buehler
(currently serving as the Campaign
Chairman for United Way), and links for
additional information on United
Way/donation portal.
A portion of the campaign funds are still
used to support local agency organizations
and their charter programs, plus the 2-1-1
information/referral services program. Our
Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County
(AAATC) works with local organizations to
develop and provide services that benefit
older adults, people with disabilities and
caregivers. We partner with local
organizations, cities, schools, religious
entities and individuals to build a better,
stronger community in Tarrant County.
However, over the last 5+ years, United
Way has quietly reinvented itself into a
fundraising organization with direct program
implementation in three targeted needs
areas: Education, Health, and Income
Stability.
In 2015, United Way in Tarrant County
allocated approximately 60% of the
campaign funds against these three
investment areas. The organization has
been working very hard to demonstrate a
measurable impact through strategic,
evidence-based proven programs.
Through this shift in funding allocation,
United Way has implemented a wide range
of programs across these need areas and
measured the tangible results. We are at a
very interesting stage with a number of
these programs showing promising and
encouraging results:
Education:
Ø Jumpstart learning - 91% of
pre-K participants in AISD arrived to
kindergarten with age-appropriate
literacy skills
Ø Reading improvement - 81% of
participants gained at least one level of
reading proficiency and 43% gained 4plus levels of reading proficiency
Health:
Ø Diabetic Intervention – 73% of
Diabetes Salud participants had a
10% reduction in glucose level after
receiving services
Ø Chronic disease support – pilot
programs for prescription drug
Retirements, Continued
Stephens, Connie J., Fort Worth
Tijerina, Jesus M., Fort Worth
West, Jimmy L., Field Non-Sales
Wiltsie, Joseph L., Fort Worth
September
Breaux, Avondale S., Houston, TX
Dubose, Edward C., Duluth, GA
Fulk, Annabelle A., Sinking Springs
Gates, Gregory G., Field Sales
Goble, Catherine G., Fort Worth
Gunter, Jan D., Field Sales
Koenig, Christine A., Sinking Springs
Lyons, Sandra S., Irvine, CA
Risteen, Reed S., Fort Worth
Smith, James L., Huntington
Walton, Eric P., Irvine
October
Anderson, James E., Fort Worth
Anthony, Robert R., Fort Worth
Bell, Keith R., Fort Worth
Bradley, Janet, Fort Worth
Carr, Dorothy, Fort Worth
Carr, Ruth L., Fort Worth
Contreras, Evelina, Fort Worth
Curtis, Michael, Fort Worth
Duvall, Carol D., Fort Worth
Hemphill, Frankie R., Fort Worth
Hendricks, Barbara A., Fort Worth
Hughes, Calvin R., Elkridge, MD
Jacoboni, Shelly, Fort Worth
Luykx, Laure L., Fort Worth
Meyer, Lynne M., Fort Worth
Miller, Jayne M., Fort Worth
Niewiarowski, James J., Fort Worth
Rudolph, Deborah A., Fort Worth
Sakamoto, David J., Fort Worth
Spurlock, Cheryl A., Huntington
Stoneham, Elizabeth, Fort Worth
Toellner, William W., Fort Worth
Utter, Steve L., Fort Worth
Vecchio, Christie K., Fort Worth
Weygand, Anna L., Fort Worth
Whitney, Diane S., Fort Worth
Williams Jr., Robert B., Fort Worth
November
Broome, Thomas A., Fort Worth
Davis, Kirk A., Duluth
Gates, Lee A., Elkridge
Gray, Stacy T., Fort Worth
Johnson, Lucinda J., Fort Worth
Jones, Gregory R., Fort Worth
Kingery, Shelia J., Huntington
Murray, Catherine D., Fort Worth
Patterson, Thomas G., Fort Worth
Pinkston, Dixie T., Fort Worth
Schaefer, James E., Fort Worth
Williams, Barbara A., Fort Worth
December
Bailey, Steven L., Fort Worth
Bourne, Don, Field Sales
Butler, David M., Field Sales
Cline, Larry, Elkridge
Crow, Robert E., Fort Worth
Dayrit, Paulito P., Fort Worth
Continued on P. 3
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January 2016
In HindSight, Page 3
Delaney, Jeffrey J., Field Sales
Gayles, Annette, Field Non-Sales
Glick, Lewis B., Field Non-Sales
Gomez, Gregoria, Houston
Harris, R. G., Fort Worth
Harter, Linda P., Fort Worth
Hoover, Priscilla R., Fort Worth
Hughes, Karen L., Fort Worth
Krickenbarger-Oliver, Jane, Houston
Lauria Jr., Charles R., Duluth
Markwardt, Kerry L., Fort Worth
Matthews, Steven M., Fort Worth
Moore, Terry L., Fort Worth
Mora, James R., Fort Worth
Olesnovich, Ronald S., Field Sales
Patterson, Richard L., Sinking Spring
Payne, Barry E., Fort Worth
Pumphrey, Denise D., Fort Worth
Reed, Michael E., Duluth
Roberts, Diane Y., Fort Worth
Rossiter, Mark C., Field Sales
Schimert, Ruby M., Fort Worth
Schoenlein, Debra, Irvine
Seelie, John M., Field Sales
Stelljes, Laurie H., Fort Worth
Stevenson Jr., James T., Field Sales
Stewart, Larry G., Fort Worth
Stimpson, Linda L., Fort Worth
Stubblefield, Diane J., Fort Worth
Watson, James B., Fort Worth
Williams, Gregory L., Fort Worth
Wyman, Pamela R., Fort Worth
compliance, fall prevention and
family/caregiver support for Alzheimer
patients.
Income Stability:
Ø Job training – 89% of participants
completed training through the
workforce development program and
gained $945 per month in employment
income
Ø VITA tax services -- returned
more than $11 million in 2014 to local
individuals who most likely re-invested
this money into the Tarrant County
economy
United Way is committed to improving the
lives of the people in Tarrant County through
education, income & health. Consistent with
its past profile, these programs have been
implemented through a cost-efficient
operational model in order to have the
greatest program impact in Tarrant County.
We are continuing to pilot new programs to
determine the impact on the community
needs while working to scale these successful
programs with demonstrated results.
United Way is asking that you consider
additional support through the donation so we
can continue this important community work.
To read a Letter from Kevin Buehler,
retired Alcon CEO, go to the very end of this
newsletter.
To make a DONATION online or to
LEARN MORE, visit:
www.unitedwaytarrant.org/RETIREES
Alcon Introduces DAILIES TOTAL1®
Contact Lenses in Plus Powers
Alcon has extended its line of DAILIES
TOTAL1® water gradient contact lenses to
include plus power lenses for hyperopic
(farsighted) patients. The plus power lenses
became available in the U.S. in November 2015.
Providing the benefits of long-lasting comfort
and superior breathability in one lens, DAILIES
TOTAL1® contact lenses launched in the U.S. in
2013.
Designed to mimic the environment of the
cornea with water content of almost 100% at the
outermost surface, the lenses maintain 100% of
their surface lubricity, even after a full day of
wear - delivering exceptional end-of-day
comfort.
“When DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses
launched in 2013, they changed the contact lens
environment with the ability to deliver
exceptional breathability and comfort
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January 2016
In HindSight, Page 4
simultaneously,” said Dr. Carla Mack, director
of Professional and Clinical Support for Alcon.
“Now those requiring refractive correction
for hyperopia can also experience these
benefits.”
It has been reported that 44% of contact
lens wearers say they experience discomfort,
which is one of the leading reasons people
stop wearing contact lenses.
In a European survey of contact lens
wearers, more than 90% of participants agreed
they can comfortably wear DAILIES TOTAL1®
contact lenses all day long. Survey results also
showed that:
Ø More than 90% agreed that DAILIES
TOTAL1® contact lenses are so
comfortable they sometimes forget they
had them on.
Ø More than 80% who tried DAILIES
TOTAL1® preferred them to their
previous contact lenses.
Recent data suggests that 16% of lens
wearers in the U.S. will drop out every year,
with half citing discomfort as reason doing so.
“Many of my patients have found relief with
DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses, so I’m
pleased that with the introduction of plus
powers, more of my patients will now have
access to this technology,” said Dr. Gina
Wesley, an optometrist in Medina, Minn.
DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses are
recommended for daily wear in a daily
disposable modality. The contact lenses are
available with a power range of -0.50D to 6.00D (in 0.25 steps); -6.50D to -10.00D (in
0.50 steps) and now are available in plus
powers from +0.50 to +6.00D (in 0.25D steps).
DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses are
prescription medical devices. See product
instructions for complete wear, care and safety
information.
U.S. Marketing Preceptorship Program
Ends with a Night of Celebration
The last six months have been leading up
to this one night in the spotlight for eight
outstanding associates. These rising stars
have completed the US Marketing
Preceptorship Program, aimed at providing
high-performing talent with a unique
opportunity in a potentially new field of
expertise – brand management.
The 2015 selected preceptors include:
Drew Jesse, Allen Hundley, Chris Grady,
Announcements, Continued
We Need News!
Inquiring Minds Want To Know!
As you can see, we have very little retiree
news in this edition. What are you doing with
your lives? Where are you traveling? Why
aren't you sharing your fun with us?
We really like featuring your activities, so
please sit down right now, think about the fun
you've been having and send us some
interesting stories and photos to share. .
You can send them to Pat Cappelletti,
editor, at: [email protected]
Don't worry about not being a good writer;
we promise to spiff up your prose so you make
your former colleagues jealous of your exciting
life.
Events, Continued
Lunch starts around 12:30 pm and the
speaker program begins by 1:00 pm.
Please remember to bring your Alcon
Retiree Gold Card for access to the Fort Worth
campus.
Alcon Corporate Security will reserve
parking spaces with the orange street cones.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Richard Plank, Bryan Murdoch, Amanda
Scott, Justin Kirby, and Lindsey Walter.
Global Performance Development is
pleased to offer the U.S. Marketing
Preceptorship Program, open to Alcon
associates who wish to gain insights and
experience in brand management.
Preceptors work alongside senior brand
managers on brand-specific initiatives,
designed to provide a better understanding of
the many facets of marketing.
Those selected are required to spend five
days a month for six months with their senior
brand manager at the Home Office. While
working on their brand initiatives, they attend
brand-related meetings such as PRC, agency
reviews, and face-to-face communications
meetings with the extended US franchise
team.
The Preceptorship Program is designed to
help preceptors, senior brand managers, and
the US Marketing organizations by providing:
Ø a potential entry point into the
marketing organization for
preceptors,
Ø a skills transfer and management
experience for senior brand
managers, and
Ø an excellent opportunity to promote
talent from within the Alcon
organization.
The program culminates with a
presentation dinner meeting where each
preceptor presents to franchise heads, HR
leaders, directors of Marketing, and senior
brand managers.
Congratulations to the 2015 U.S.
marketing preceptors!
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January 2016
Jeff Young’s Update from His Medical
Mission Trip to Montero, Bolivia
By MMTC Ambassador, Jeff Young
Greetings fellow Alconites!
I have to start with a very appropriate first
word: Wow. I cannot express to you how
important that your work is.
I've always had a great appreciation for what
we do to restore sight and change lives, but I
have to admit that my usual day at Alcon
consists of computer monitors and meetings and
teleconferences.... so my general appreciation
was sincere, but it was theoretical and academic
(surely we're helping some folks around the
world to have different lives, right?)
Seeing it here in person has been eyeopening.
I'll send this message to you out-of-order like
Tarantino, starting with a wow-moment, and
then backing up to an earlier time...
I'm doing a pre-op conversation today (in
Spanish) with a 20-year-old guy who has this
incredible intelligence behind his eyes. He's
wearing overalls and his hair is slicked to the
side with a part like Marty McFly.
The center of his right eye is cloudy with the
white haze that I now immediately recognize as
a possible candidate for cataract surgery. He
explains that he is the "professor" for his small
Arthur Chan Checks in from His Mission
Trip in Phnom Penh
The past few days have gone by so quickly.
It has truly been an amazing and life changing
experience being on this mission. Everything I
know about an eye care center doesn't apply
here.
There is no phaco, the recovery room is an
open space shared amongst a couple dozen
families. We are so fortunate to have the
technology and access to care back home.
Each morning I walk past about a hundred
people who are already waiting when the
children's surgical center opens. Contrary to the
non-profit hospital's name, they also screen and
treat adult patients.
Families have traveled from within the city of
Phnom Penh and its surrounding provinces in
hopes of having a debilitating eye condition
treated or to get a new pair of glasses. The
hospital also has ENT and orthopedics.
It has been an honor to shadow Dr. Kevin
Winkle at clinic and surgery each day. Dr. Winkle
In HindSight, Page 5
farming community in a remote agricultural town
in the sub-basin of Bolivia.
I've already transcribed his medical history
and performed some basic diagnostics. As I go
to put his drops in to dilate his eyes for pre-op
examination with the surgeon, he looks at the
bottle and says, "Oh, 'Alcon', bien."
This man is from a town that is literally
smaller than our Fort Worth campus, but he
already recognizes the Alcon name and logo.
Hashtag: mind blown. Our "street cred" is truly
global.
Jump back to Sunday morning...
Dr. Markoff is well known here: they see him,
and another volunteer group who comes here
each year in June, as superheroes. He and
various friends and colleagues have come back
to this clinic for almost 20 years now.
We met in the Miami airport last night and
then flew the rest of the way together. When Dr.
Markoff takes off his glasses, he kinda looks like
Hugh Laurie from House MD. The team did an
overnighter from Miami through La Paz, and
then flew down into Santa Cruz, followed by a
bumpy/muddy drive into the city of Montero.
Side note: At more than twice the altitude of
Denver, this is an interesting
place to catch your breath.
I'm a wreck
on Sunday
morning
because a
shrieking baby
didn't let me
sleep for a
single minute
Cont. on p. 6
is a generous, self-giving and accomplished
pediatric surgeon from Alaska.
He served in Iraq and graduated from
Duke. He’s been coming to Cambodia for
almost 10 years, not just to do surgery but to
teach the local ophthalmologists and hospital
staff to help them be self sufficient.
The best part about this mission trip is
being able to follow patients from intake to
recovery, since it all happens in the same day.
Surgeries aren't scheduled in advance patients come into the clinic in the morning and
several cases are selected for each afternoon.
The staff is trained on everything from
making glasses, to vision screening, to
scrubbing-in during surgeries and prescribing
post-op care. Yet there is often chaos –
Cont. on P. 10
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In HindSight, Page 6
Alcon introduces Contoura Vision as
First Personalized LASIK Procedure at
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Annual Meeting
Alcon introduced Contoura Vision, the latest
advancement in its WaveLight refractive
portfolio, during the annual meeting of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in
Las Vegas, November 14-17, 2015.
Contoura™ Vision is the latest advancement
in refractive surgery in the US, enabling
surgeons to deliver a personalized topographyguided LASIK treatment.
Contoura Vision is a topography-guided
LASIK treatment designed to provide surgeons
the ability to perform more personalized laser
procedures for patients with nearsightedness, or
nearsightedness with astigmatism, based on the
unique corneal topography of each eye.
In 2014, more than 630,000 LASIK
procedures were performed in the US alone.2
“We are pleased to provide surgeons with a
technology that has been shown to deliver visual
acuity better than glasses or contact lenses for
nearly one-third of patient eyes in a clinical trial
setting,” said Franck Leveiller, head of Research
& Development for Alcon’s Surgical Franchise.
“Backed by FDA approval and very positive
clinical trial outcomes, surgeons can now offer a
topography-guided treatment option for
refractive surgery patients in the US.”
Multicenter clinical trial results demonstrate
that the personalized topography-guided LASIK
procedure Contoura Vision redefined the
standard practice terminology of “quality of
vision,” which is visual acuity combined with
visual symptoms.
More than 30% of eyes achieved better
unaided visual acuity 12 months after surgery
than with glasses or contact lenses prior to
surgery.1 In this US-based clinical trial, 92.6% of
eyes that received topography-guided LASIK
treatment achieved 20/20 vision or better:
specifically, 64.8% experienced 20/16 vision or
better, and 34.4% could see 20/12.5 or better,
12 months after surgery.
The procedure also showed statistically
significant reductions in some of the visual
symptoms associated with LASIK, such as glare,
light sensitivity, difficulty driving at night and
difficulty while reading.
Jeff Young, continued
during the first two flights. But Dr. Markoff is
actually on a "mission," and wants to maximize
every moment here. So despite the fact that he
and everyone else is exhausted, we grab a
quick breakfast, race to the clinic the same
day, then get started right away, as soon as we
arrive.
January 2016
Contoura Vision is performed with Alcon’s
WaveLight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q or
WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser Systems, in
conjunction with the WaveLight Topolyzer
Vario Diagnostic Device. Alcon plans for
broad commercial release of Contoura Vision
in in the US in early 2016.
Alcon Scientific Results and Data
Presentations during AAO
In addition to its Contoura Vision launch,
Alcon presented data and clinical results for
current pipeline and product innovations:
Ø Two Studies on Fixed
Combination Brinzolamide
1%/Brimonidine 0.2% (BBFC)
used Adjunctive to Prostaglandin
Analogs (PGAs): Findings show
additive effect of BBFC therapy in
patients with open-angle glaucoma
or ocular hypertension who were
inadequately controlled on PGA
alone.
Ø A Study Comparing Intraoperative
Aberrometry versus a Toric
Calculator in Determining Toric
IOL Cylinder Power and Axis
Ø Refractive Outcomes in Posthyperoptic LASIK Cataract
Patients in which Intraoperative
Aberrometry was used to
Determine IOL Power
Ø Postoperative Uncorrected Visual
Acuity vs Preoperative Best
Corrected Visual Acuity with the
WaveLight Refractive Suite
Ø Comparing Aphakic Refractive
Measurements in Eyes in which
BSS and an ophthalmic
viscosurgical device were used
with an Intraoperative Aberrometer
References
1. FDA Clinical Trials. Allegretto Wave
Eye-Q Addendum Procedure Manual T-CAT
Topography-Guided Treatments.
2. MarketScope. Alcon data on file, 2015.
The clinic is ready for us. Each year Dr.
Markoff visits, the folks at the clinic have
added new rooms and better roofs. We have
a long list of patients who need our help, a big
room of Alcon-supplied equipment, surgical
aids, and pharmaceuticals, and we're ready to
begin...
Stay tuned.
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January 2016
In HindSight, Page 7
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in Peru:
Building a Continuum of Care for
Underserved Patients
EuroVision Team Reunion
by Mary Dulle
Alcon takes great pride in its 30-year
partnership with Orbis International, an
international non-profit non-governmental
organization dedicated to reducing preventable
blindness through education and training. By
strengthening local eye care institutions and
training eye care professionals, Orbis works to
build a sustainable foundation of eye care in
developing countries.
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and Alcon
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) is unique
to Orbis: it is the world’s only airborne eye-health
training and surgical center. With an accredited
ophthalmic training hospital aboard a DC-10
aircraft, the FEH program brings quality eye care
and training to different underserved areas around
the globe. The jet is fully equipped to teach and
provide eye care wherever it flies.
Alcon donates essential equipment, supplies,
and personnel to support the refurbished DC-10
jet. Additionally, the Alcon Volunteer Biomedical
Corps, a dedicated group of Alcon biomedical
engineers, participate in Orbis training programs
and share their skills with those in developing
countries – enabling medical professionals to
strengthen their eye care infrastructure and better
care for patients.
Since the program inception, this program has
resulted in:
Ø 23.3 million medical and optical
treatments performed
Ø 325,000 medical professionals trained
Ø Surgeries for patients in 90+ countries
How the Flying Eye Hospital Works
Within the 48-seat classroom at the front of
the plane, doctors gather for lectures, discussions
and live broadcasts of surgical procedures being
performed within the FEH operating room.
Surgeries can also be broadcast to an
additional classroom outside the aircraft and
observed by trainees, who can ask questions of
the operating surgeons via a two-way audio visual
system.
The FEH treats patients with eye diseases
and conditions such as cataracts, diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, strabismus, and
retinopathy of prematurity. Upon departure of the
FEH, videos of the surgeries are left with local
institutions for further training.
An Orbis ophthalmologist also returns within
two months of each program to examine patients
and review cases with local physicians.
For several years, Human Resources
directors in the European Union met twice
annually with representatives from Global Human
Resources and Corporate Communications on a
project called EuroVision.
This was a twice-yearly color magazine
intended for all Alcon associates in the EU. It
was published in eight languages, with identical
articles, photos and illustrations in each
language.
Eventually, most of the original EuroVision
team members retired. The relationships we built
were firm and long-lasting, though. We became
friends as well as colleagues. We missed our
gatherings, so a few years ago, we began having
reunions.
The 2015 Reunion was in September in
Barcelona, hosted by Tomas Copete and his
wife, Teri. The weather was wonderful, the city
beautiful, the conversation interesting and the
food and beverages delicious.
Participating from the U.S. were Martin Vogt
& Thane Sterling and Mary & Joe Dulle.
Coming from Belgium, Karel & Kris DeCock;
from the U.K., Terri & Andy Jeffs and from
Spain, our hosts Tomas & Teri Copete.
Alcon Travels to Trujillo, Peru
The FEH visited Peru 12 times since its
inception in 1982, and successfully conducted
training programs in Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo
and Trujillo. This fall, the FEH returned to Trujillo,
Peru, for the fifth time to deliver a four-week
regional ophthalmic training program (September
21 – October 16) in partnership with the Instituto
Regional de Oftalmología (IRO), a specialized
ophthalmology institute and a referral center in
northern Peru.
With support from Alcon, this year's Trujillo
FEH program worked to strengthen IRO's
capacity to deliver subspecialized eye care
services and its residency program through
lectures, discussion, observation and hands-on
training in cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma,
oculoplastics, optometry, low vision and
strabismus.
The program also provides continuing
medical education tailored for local
Cont. on P. 9
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In HindSight, Page 8
World Sight Day 2015: Events
Around the Globe
All across Asia, Europe and the Americas,
thousands of Alcon and Novartis associates
paused for a moment on October 8 to
acknowledge World Sight Day (WSD).
From Q&A’s with doctors to vision screenings
and contact lens fittings for associates, and free
exams and glasses for patients in need, Alcon
supported Eye Care for All – the World Sight Day
2015 call to action.
Many thanks to everyone who planned and/or
participated in the scores educational and
engaging events we hosted for associates,
patients, KOLs and media. Your efforts brought
much-needed global attention to the fact that
vision impairment is a major health challenge –
one that all of us here at Alcon work to address
every day.
Below you'll find facts and photos featuring
some of our World Sight Day activities.
Taiwan
Taiwan and Ophthalmological Society of
Taiwan launched "Dialogue with Time," an
interactive exhibition explaining various aspects
of aging, including the effects on vision.
Participants could take Vision Test, which
consists of five interactive activities, testing their
eyes for refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma,
retina and dry eyes. In addition, they were offered
free eye screenings and educational materials on
eye health.
The event attracted media interest and
generated almost 150 news reports, including
television news coverage. Associates had a
chance to show their knowledge of eye health
during the quiz contest.
China
China hosted a roundtable meeting for ECPs,
representatives from Alcon and Novartis China,
January 2016
and local reporters that launched a lively
discussion on cataract, glaucoma, dry eye,
contact lenses safety and Alcon's leadership
in these areas.
China team also offered a free lecture
and vision screenings to about 50 Beijingbased Novartis/Alcon/Sandoz associates and
their parents. To demonstrate some real-life
situations a cataract patient might encounter,
an Alcon China associate shared the
cataract treatment experiences of her family
members during the event.
Russia
Russia invited associates to celebrate the
gift of sight with a lecture on cataracts, the
new Alcon IOL AcrySof® IQ ReSTOR® 2.5
launch, free check-ups for dry-eye and
Systane promo sample giveaways, contact
lens fittings for eyeglass wearers and a Q&A
session on refractive surgery.
To add to the festive mood of the day,
associates were welcomed with fresh carrot
snacks and took pictures in the branded
photo zone.
Cycle for Sight Program
Cycle for Sight is a popular event
hosted by organizations around the world to
increase awareness of vision impairment and
raise funds to combat it through research
and service delivery.
On World Sight day 2015, Alcon hosted
three Cycle for Sight events, raising more
than $35,000 for optometric research and
education and sustainable eye care
programs in China.
United Kingdom
Alcon UK marked World Sight Day with
an internal Cycle for Sight challenge to
raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight
(OGS). Alcon UK associates more than
doubled their target of 90 miles, the roundtrip cycling distance between Alcon UK’s
head office and The London Eye, pedaling a
cumulative 198 miles and raising £555.00 for
OGS.
Fort Worth
In Fort Worth, associates were asked to
ride a total of 2,202 minutes to trigger a
$10,000 donation from the Alcon Foundation
to OGS. Competition to out-ride colleagues
helped us beat the Cycle for Sight 20/20
Challenge by a huge margin. The 250
associates who participated in the challenge
rode a total of 2,497 minutes.
AAO
At the American Academy of Optometry’s
2015 Academy in New Orleans, Academy
Cont. on P. 9
4
3
January 2016
Orbis, continued
ophthalmologists, nurses, anesthesiologists,
biomedical engineers and technicians, as well as
other allied eye care professionals.
Two Alcon biomedical engineers from the
United States volunteered their time to provide
technical support and share their expertise with
local technicians on managing and maintaining
the ophthalmic equipment at IRO during the
Trujillo program.
Empowering through Education
Sr. Technical Support Specialist Laurie Ward
was one of the Alcon engineers volunteering her
time in Trujillo – her second time working with the
program.
During week one, she ran Biomedical
Engineering “Constellation” trainings for 10
biomed trainees, teaching Peruvian trainees how
to troubleshoot the instrumentation that would be
used during surgeries for vitreoretinal, retinal
detachment and cataract removal.
She explained that important eye care
surgeries are often interrupted due to problems
with equipment. Oftentimes, these problems can
be resolved right away – but many biomedical
engineers in developing countries lack the
technical expertise to recognize and solve the
instrumental problem.
For example, if an engineer accurately
recognized that a slight malfunction was due to a
problem with instrumentation set-up, the medical
team would not have to call in a field engineer and
delay the surgery.
With her instruction, trainees gained the skills
to identify what problems would need further
assistance and what problems could be resolved
immediately, enabling surgery to continue and
patients to receive the care they need.
“Through training, you avoid having to cancel
a large number of surgeries,” Laurie said. “Not
everyone realizes it, but problems with
instrumentation directly impact the quality of care
and the number of surgeries that can be done
each and every day.”
She also noted that training enables operating
room staff to be able to focus fully on the patient
during surgeries, freed from concerns about
equipment performance with the knowledge that
their engineers are fully prepared to face any
issues.
World Sight Day, continued
attendees generated a $25,000 donation to the
American Optometric Foundation by riding 2,023
minutes for the Cycle for Sight 20/20 Challenge.
The 214 optometry students, KOLs and
academicians pedaled anywhere from two to 90
minutes to help meet the goal. Many also agreed
to video interviews to share their thoughts on
which therapeutic areas they would direct
research and resources to and on how they
believe the industry can support increased
access to comprehensive eye care.
Johns Creek
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and a variety
of state and local leaders joined Johns Creek to
celebrate World Sight Day, as well as the growth
of Alcon in Georgia in recent years.
In HindSight, Page 9
“As the biggest manufacturer of
ophthalmology equipment, we are well
positioned to train these engineers,” Laurie
said. “We have a great partnership with Orbis
because our technical specialists here at
Alcon each provide training in our own
product specialty line, teaching trainees how
to recognize technical problems and resolve
them in the products that we know inside and
out.”
Fighting Diabetic Eye Disease
This program focused on diabetic eye
disease, a group of eye problems people with
diabetes – type 1 & 2 – may have, that can
lead to vision loss and blindness. The latter
two weeks of the program are mainly
dedicated to the treatment of Diabetic
Retinopathy (DR), or damage to the blood
vessels in the retina.
Diabetes is an increasingly common
disease around the world due to lifestyle
changes – especially in low-income settings.
Global studies estimate that there will be a 69
percent increase in the number of adults with
diabetes in the developing world between
2010 and 2030.
As its prevalence increases, so do its
complications. Approximately 75 percent of
patients who have diabetes for more than 20
years will develop some ophthalmic
complications, such as cataract and DR.
If DR is not treated in a timely manner, the
patients can develop neovascular glaucoma
with blind, painful eyes. In 2012, the
International Diabetes Federation reported a
near 7% prevalence rate of diabetes in Peru.
To address these issues, a regional
Peruvian health department issued a new
policy to require all diabetic patients to have
an annual ophthalmic evaluation. However,
without the hands-on training, medical
education, technical support and shared
expertise from programs like Orbis, these
communities would be ill equipped to rise to
the challenge.
“Our partnership with Orbis is critical to
promoting eye care self-sustainability in Peru
and around the world,” Laurie said. “Many
other terrific organizations provide the
surgeries, but our education will reduce
preventable blindness long after we leave.”
The event received wide coverage by the
local media to help raise awareness for the
importance of eye care. Associates also took
part in running Kids Vision for Life at a local
elementary school, as well as an art contest,
where associates and their families submitted
artwork to represent what they would miss
most if they couldn't see.
Spain and Portugal
Helped by General Óptica in Spain and
Grand Vision in Portugal (both partners of the
Vision Care business unit), we offered vision
screening tests to all of our associates.
In Spain, associates were given five tests,
including the color test to detect changes in
color vision and the Autorefractor to get an
5
3
1
2
January 2016
In HindSight, Page 10
objective assessment of possible refractive
errors and other conditions.
The Optical Coherence Tomography
(OTC), which can diagnose possible
vitreoretinal and macular pathologies,
including vitreomacular traction and macular
hole, was very popular with the more than 100
associates who participated because, as
Joana Montalban, Alcon Spain, said, "We
don't have regular access to this test and
today we're getting it for free and with
personalized service."
In Portugal, more than 50 associates
assisted with eye care awareness meetings
and/or had vision screenings in Tagus Park
(Lisbon).
In addition to providing eye care services
for associates, we also wanted to showcase
some of the Alcon products that help patients
around the world see better every day, so we
used World Sight Day to complete a special
internal launch of Panoptix and Ultrasert to all
the Novartis associates.
The event included musical performances
by Alcon associates, a custom cake and
branded t-shirts. "World Sight Day was a very
comprehensive day that allowed us to feel
very proud of our hard work and the progress
that we are making as a company to meet our
mission," said Marta Gamboa, Alcon Portugal.
To see all the World Sight Day photos and
social media activities, please click on
https://www.facebook.com/AlconEyeCare/
Arthur Chen, continued
instructions may be lost in translation, equipment is not reliable, and supplies aren't always
readily available.
Each patient I got to meet has a unique
story too long to tell on this blog. Many of these
kids remind me of my own - they play sports,
they're shy at first, they dance to music, and
they return the biggest smiles when we smile
at them. The language barrier is overcome by
their knowledge that we're here to help them
reach their true potential by helping them see
better.
Alcon Timeline
Editor’s Note: From time to time, as we have
space to fill, In HindSight will plug in highlights
from Alcon’s long and storied history. Here, we
start at the beginning.
1945
Two pharmacists, Robert Alexander and
William Conner, open a small pharmacy in
Fort Worth, Texas, combining the first
syllables of their last names to call it Alcon.
1947
With William Conner as Alcon’s first president,
Alcon Laboratories, Inc. is incorporated. The
company begins manufacturing specialty
pharmaceutical products. Alexander and
Conner fill prescriptions during the day, and at
night prepare sterile, injectable vitamins and
oral products using a blender and pressure
cooker.
1950
Alcon introduces its first two ophthalmic
products: Ophthalzin™ for minor eye
infections and Zincfrin® for red, itchy eyes.
1953
While on a sales call in West Texas, Robert
Alexander and a local physician create and patent
the DROP-TAINER® eye drop dispensing bottle,
now standard for eye care products.
I’m feeling blessed to be part of such a life
changing experience.
1959
Alcon opens an office in Canada, beginning its
international operations.
1962
The Alcon Trust is established, and continues
today through the Alcon Foundation
http://www.alcon.com/corporateresponsibility/alcon-foundation.aspx that
supports organizations that advance and
improve the quality of eye health, education,
and access to care globally.
This Newsletter was sent to you on behalf of the Alcon Retiree's Association.
Alcon Retirees Association, Mail Drop TC-20.
6201 South Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76134