Alcon Expands Leadership in IOL Innovation with Clareon PanOptix Pro, Delivering Best-in-Class Light Utilization and Less Light Scatter

Rhea-AI Summary

Alcon (NYSE: ALC) has announced the introduction of Clareon® PanOptix® Pro intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract patients in the U.S. The new IOL features proprietary ENLIGHTEN® NXT Optical technology, delivering 94% light utilization - the highest reported among trifocal IOLs - and half the light scatter compared to its predecessor.

Key improvements include more uninterrupted light distribution and a 16% increase in optical image contrast between distance and intermediate vision. The device will be commercially available in the U.S. in May 2025, featuring powers from +6.0 to +34.0 diopters. It will be the first presbyopia-correcting IOL available in the U.S. from Alcon in the single-use Clareon AutonoMe® preloaded delivery system.

Positive

• Achieves industry-leading 94% light utilization, reducing scatter by 50%
• 16% improvement in optical image contrast
• First presbyopia-correcting IOL available in single-use Clareon AutonoMe preloaded delivery system
• Builds on PanOptix's established market leadership as world's most implanted trifocal IOL

Negative

• May cause more visual disturbances than monofocal IOLs
• Can impair night driving and low-light vision performance

Insights

Medical Device Analyst

Alcon's new Clareon PanOptix Pro IOL represents a meaningful advancement in the company's ophthalmology portfolio. The enhanced trifocal intraocular lens delivers 94% light utilization (compared to 88% in the original PanOptix) and reduces scatter by half. This technical improvement directly addresses key functional concerns in premium IOLs - light management and visual clarity.

What distinguishes this launch is its enhancement of an already market-dominant product. Alcon identifies the original PanOptix as the world's most implanted trifocal IOL, giving this platform significant revenue importance. The improved light distribution and 16% increase in optical image contrast between distance and intermediate vision should strengthen Alcon's competitive positioning against rival presbyopia-correcting IOLs from Zeiss, Rayner, and Johnson & Johnson.

With U.S. commercial availability set for May and expansion to additional markets in late 2025, this launch bolsters Alcon's leadership position in the premium IOL segment. The upgraded product maintains the clinically-proven features driving the original's success while addressing specific optical performance metrics. The simultaneous introduction of a new preloaded delivery system (Clareon AutonoMe) adds procedural efficiency benefits that should enhance surgeon adoption.

• Clareon PanOptix Pro provides unprecedented 94% light utilization, resulting in half the light scatter of Clareon PanOptix^1,2,§,*
• Clareon PanOptix Pro provides more uninterrupted light distribution across the full visual range, and is designed for better image contrast^1,†
• Commercially available in the U.S. in May, Clareon PanOptix Pro is the next generation of the world’s leading trifocal IOL^3-5,‡

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC), the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, announced today the introduction of Clareon^® PanOptix^® Pro intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract patients in the U.S. PanOptix Pro leverages proprietary ENLIGHTEN^® NXT Optical technology which delivers the highest reported light utilization of any trifocal IOL—and the lowest light scatter.^{1-3,6-10,§,**} These enhancements also provide more uninterrupted light distribution from distance to near, and a 16% increase in optical image contrast between distance and intermediate.^1,† PanOptix Pro builds on the clinically-proven low visual disturbance profile, high spectacle independence and exceptionally high patient satisfaction of PanOptix.^{1,2,11,12,**,°,Δ}

Clareon® PanOptix® Pro Trifocal IOL will also be available in the Clareon®AutonoMe® preloaded delivery system

“As the global leader in eye care, we are committed to improving our technologies to advance patient outcomes through rigorous, world-class R&D—even with our leading products like PanOptix,” said Rob Scott, VP, Intraocular Devices, R&D, Alcon. “Our team looked at hundreds of design options, ultimately landing on a targeted diffractive refinement that helped us recover 50% of light lost to scatter, and reposition it to a beneficial focal point for PanOptix Pro.^1,2,13-19,* This allowed for specific enhancements while maintaining the features that have driven the success of PanOptix—the world’s most implanted trifocal IOL.”^3-5,‡

“PanOptix has been a game-changer in my practice, allowing me to reliably offer many of my patients complete freedom from glasses after cataract surgery,” said Kerry Solomon, MD, Medical Director at Carolina Eyecare Physicians, LLC.^11,20 “I was excited to learn that Alcon evolved this leading technology for more light utilization and less light scatter.^1,2,* My early patient results with PanOptix Pro support that this advancement builds on the well-established performance of PanOptix.”

PanOptix Pro will be the first presbyopia-correcting IOL available in the U.S. from Alcon in the single-use Clareon AutonoMe^® preloaded delivery system. PanOptix Pro will also be available for use with the Clareon Monarch^® IV delivery system beginning in 2026.¹² PanOptix Pro offers powers ranging from +6.0 through +30.0 diopters (in 0.5 diopter increments), +31.0 through +34.0 diopters (in 1.0 diopter increments), with a +2.17 diopter intermediate and a +3.25 diopter near add power. Like all Alcon IOLs, PanOptix Pro will be available with blue light and ultraviolet filtering.¹²

PanOptix Pro has been introduced to select practices across the U.S., with broad commercial availability in May. Additional markets will begin rollout in late 2025. For surgeons interested in more information on PanOptix Pro, visit MyAlcon.com or visit the Alcon Booth #1815 at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting (Los Angeles, April 25-28). For patients interested in learning more about PanOptix Pro, visit MyCataracts.com.

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 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.

About Clareon PanOptix Pro
The Clareon PanOptix Pro Trifocal IOL is a type of multifocal IOL used to focus images clearly onto the back of your eye (retina) to allow clear vision after the cataract removal. In addition, the center of the Clareon PanOptix Pro Trifocal IOL allows for better near (reading) vision and intermediate (computer work) vision versus what a monofocal lens would provide.

Potential Side Effects: Due to the design of multifocal IOLs, there are some side effects that can be associated with the Clareon PanOptix Pro Trifocal IOL models. These may be worse than with a monofocal IOL, including visual disturbances such as glare, rings around lights, starbursts (rays around light sources), and reduced contrast sensitivity (decreased ability to distinguish objects from their background, especially in dim lighting). These side effects may make it more difficult to see while driving at night or completing tasks in low lighting conditions such as at night or in fog or in a dimly lit room after surgery, as compared to before surgery.

*Compared to Clareon PanOptix. PanOptix has 88% light utilization (12% scatter light)/PanOptix Pro has 94% light utilization (6% scatter light).
^†Based on bench-measured, average white-light modular transfer function (MTF) from 0 to 70 lp/mm at 3mm aperture, compared to PanOptix.
^‡Based on worldwide IOL unit sales of Clareon PanOptix and AcrySof^® IQ PanOptix through Q1, 2024.
^§Based on manufacturer reported values and respective methodology for Clareon PanOptix, Envista Envy, AT Elana, Gemetric and Rayner.
**Based on bench and vision simulator studies.
°Based on data for AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL.
^ΔResponse to the following question on IOLSAT questionnaire (Version 1.0, December 20, 2018) at 6 months post-op "Given your vision today, if you had to do it all over, would you have the same lenses implanted again?"; n=127.

References

1. Alcon data on file, 2025. REF-25218
2. Alcon data on file, 2015. REF-08546
3. Alcon data on file, 2024. REF-25221
4. Alcon data on file, 2024. REF-23554
5. MarketScope LLC. 2023 IOL Market Report: Global Analysis for 2022 to 2028. St. Louis, MO: MarketScope LLC; 2023.
6. Muzychuk, A. Defocus Curve Performance of a Novel Hydrophobic Acrylic Trifocal Intraocular Lens: A prospective, Multicenter Canadian Study. ASCRS Annual Meeting, April 5-8, Boston.
7. Rayner Professional Website. https://rayner.com/en/iol/trifocal/rayone-trifocal/. Accessed March 2025.
8. Carones F. New Concept of Light Distribution for Bilateral Trifocal IOL Implantation. AAO. 2022;2022:53.
9. ZEISS AT LISA tri family. Supplement in Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today (Europe), September 2014.
10. Zeiss Cataract Insights: Laying the Myth or Reality; Digitalization enhances cataract surgery? Supplement in Ophthalmology Times, Europe; May 22, 2024; https://europe.ophthalmologytimes.com/zeiss-cataract-insight-series?page=1. Accessed March 2025.
11. Zhu D, Ren S, Mills K, Hull J, Dhariwal M. Rate of complete spectacle independence with a trifocal intraocular lens: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology and Therapy. 2023;12(2):1157-1171.doi:10.1007/s40123-023-00657-5.
12. Clareon^® PanOptix^® Pro Trifocal Hydrophobic Acrylic IOL Model PXYWT0 2024 Directions for Use.
13. Kohnen T, Lapid-Gortzak R, Ramamurthy D, et al. Clinical outcomes after bilateral implantation of a diffractive trifocal intraocular lens: A worldwide pooled analysis of prospective clinical investigations. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2023;Volume 17:155-163. doi:10.2147/opth.s377234.
14. Charness N, Dijkstra K, Jastrzembski T, Weaver S, Champion M. Monitor viewing distance for younger and older workers. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 2008;52(19):1614-1617. doi:10.1177/154193120805201965.
15. Government of Canada CC for OH and S. CCOHS: Office ergonomics. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. April 25, 2023. Accessed May 9, 2023. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/office/.
16. Gundersen K, Potvin R. Trifocal intraocular lenses: A comparison of the visual performance and quality of vision provided by two different lens designs. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2017;Volume 11:1081-1087. doi:10.2147/opth.s136164.
17. Kohnen T, Titke C, Böhm M. Trifocal intraocular lens implantation to treat visual demands in various distances following lens removal. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2016;161. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2015.09.030.
18. Lwowski C, Pawlowicz K, Petermann K, et al. Visual and patient-reported factors leading to satisfaction after implantation of diffractive extended depth-of-focus and trifocal intraocular lenses. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2022;48(4):421-428. doi:10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000780.
19. Alcon data on file, 2024. REF-25903
20. Clareon^® PanOptix^® Trifocal Hydrophobic Acrylic IOL. Product Information. 2021.

Connect with us on
Facebook
LinkedIn

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250401378074/en/

Investor Relations

Daniel Cravens, Allen Trang

+ 41 589 112 110 (Geneva)

+ 1 817 615 2789 (Fort Worth)

investor.relations@alcon.com

Media Relations

Steven Smith

+ 41 589 112 111 (Geneva)

+ 1 817 551 8057 (Fort Worth)

globalmedia.relations@alcon.com

Source: Alcon Inc. Investors

FAQ

What are the key improvements of Alcon's new Clareon PanOptix Pro IOL over its predecessor?

The new PanOptix Pro achieves 94% light utilization (vs 88%), 50% less light scatter, and 16% better optical image contrast between distance and intermediate vision compared to the previous model.

When will Alcon's Clareon PanOptix Pro IOL be available in the US market?

The PanOptix Pro will be commercially available in the U.S. in May 2025, with additional markets beginning rollout in late 2025.

What power range does the new Alcon PanOptix Pro IOL offer?

It offers powers from +6.0 to +30.0 diopters in 0.5 diopter increments, and +31.0 to +34.0 diopters in 1.0 diopter increments.

What are the potential side effects of Alcon's PanOptix Pro IOL?

Potential side effects include visual disturbances such as glare, rings around lights, starbursts, and reduced contrast sensitivity, particularly in low-light conditions.