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Alcon announces new programs, support, spokespeople
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ATLANTA – Olympic gymnast and Alcon spokesperson Laurie Hernandez explained how Alcon’s Dailies AquaComfort Plus contact lenses have given her more confidence in her routines, here at a company-sponsored press conference held during SECO.
“It’s very important that we as athletes take care of our mind and body,” Hernandez said at the press conference. “In this sport, it’s important to spot where you are. For a while I didn’t realize that I wasn’t spotting properly because I didn’t understand that my vision wasn’t the greatest.”
She said her optometrist gave her a sample pair of Dailies AquaComfort Plus, which she wore the next day.
“I caught my first release move because I could see the bar,” she said.
Hernandez added: “We face plant a lot. In those cases, it’s easy to get another pair. When you’re running full force at a vault, the last thing I want to have to worry about is my vision.”
She said she now has more confidence and has talked to her teammates who wear glasses outside of practice about the benefits of daily disposable contact lenses.
The head of marketing for Alcon’s U.S. Vision Care, Jonathan Balch, said that in addition to Hernandez serving as a spokesperson for the company’s Invisible Edge campaign, Alcon is also partnering with Tobin Heath, FIFA Women’s Cup winner, two-time Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Women’s National Team member.
“Eight-three percent of athletes said their lenses give them an edge during competition,” Balch said at the press conference. “Ninety percent of everyday athletes agree that comfortable lenses help them perform at their best.”
Balch also reported that daily disposable contact lenses are experiencing a dramatic increase in market share over the past 8 to 10 years, while the 2-week modality is declining steadily, and the monthly modality is flat.
“In dollar share, daily disposable has well surpassed 2-week lenses and is heading to passing monthly,” Balch said. “We’ve placed the majority of our resources in daily disposable because we believe it’s the best modality.”
He noted that Alcon is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Power of One campaign.
Balch also announced the launch of Alcon’s Patient and Practice Experience Team to help eye care providers, “address the complexities of the eye care business they’re facing on a daily basis.
He said Alcon’s customers said they need help in patient acquisition and retention, staff training in different areas and practice management.
“We’ve created a team that is launching now and nationally that will engage in a consultant way to deliver tailored solutions in their areas to help ECPs be successful and drive patient outcomes,” he said. “Power of One will continue to thrive and be managed by this new team.”
Balch added that Alcon is reinforcing its commitment to Think About Your Eyes. The company has invested $8 million since 2014 and it plans to invest $2 million in 2018.
The program is driving 1.4 million patient exams per year, he said, and Alcon’s Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, vice president of professional affairs, U.S. Vision Care, was recently elected as its vice chairman.
Weisbarth noted at the press conference that Alcon “believes strongly in giving back. That’s what leaders do.”
The Alcon Foundation provided $3.5 million in cash grants in 2017, he said.
He noted that only 13% of eye care providers are fitting multifocal contact lenses.
“We have more than doubled our efforts in 2018 to provide in-person opportunities at the Alcon Experience Academy,” Weisbarth said, including multifocal road shows and dinner meetings.
– by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosures: Balch and Weisbarth are employed by Alcon. Hernandez is a spokesperson for Alcon.