Alcon donates new ACCURUS® surgical system to enhance technical capabilities of  Flying Eye Hospital

Da Nang, Vietnam, April 4, 2008 –- Today marks the end of the Flying Eye Hospital program in Dan  Nang, where more than 130 Vietnamese eye care professionals participated in an intensive skills exchange on board the unique aircraft and at the Da Nang Eye Hospital. During the three-week program, nearly 300 patients were screened or received ophthalmic medical treatment -- more than 25 percent of them children under age 16. More than 100 patients underwent surgery or laser treatment to have their sight restored. 

With the support of the Vietnamese government and the People’s Committee of Da Nang City, ORBIS International’s medical team and volunteer eye specialists worked with Vietnamese doctors and nurses from all over the country to perform surgery, learn new skills and restore sight. The tailor made program focused on subspecialty training in glaucoma, orbital tumors and disorders, retinal diseases (with specific focus on diabetic retinopathy), ultrasound and childhood blindness.

“It has been our honor to carry out the second Flying Eye Hospital program in Da Nang,” said Geoffrey Holland, ORBIS executive director and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to raise public awareness about eye health and ensure that quality eye care is readily available, sustainable and affordable for all. Together, working with government health officials, local doctors and Alcon, a major corporate supporter, we are pleased to contribute to the development of Vietnam’s eye care system.”

Sponsored by Alcon (NYSE: ACL), the program also offered advanced, hands-on training to 18 local biomedical engineers. The training was conducted by members of the Alcon Volunteer Biomedical Corps, a dedicated group of biomedical technicians who participate in ORBIS training programs.

Alcon donates new surgical system to ORBIS

During the program, Alcon donated to ORBIS an ACCURUS® 800cs surgical system, a machine designed for improved control, efficiency and effectiveness throughout the surgical process. ACCURUS® key features include 3D technology, high-performance vitrectomy probes, combined posterior and anterior procedures, and better surgical control.

Holland said, “Alcon’s support is essential to ORBIS’s work. A supporter since 1979, Alcon provides a cash donation as well as more than 60 percent of the medical supplies and ophthalmic equipment needed for our sight-saving programs worldwide. The ACCURUS® will further strengthen the technical capabilities of the Flying Eye Hospital and helps us to conduct training programs more effectively in developing countries for years to come.”

More than 130 eye care professionals trained

From March 17 – April 4, 15 Vietnamese ophthalmologists, nine nurses and one anesthetists worked side-by-side with 16 ORBIS volunteer eye specialists from the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada and Italy, receiving hands-on training on board the Flying Eye Hospital and at the Da Nang Eye Hospital. More than 87 eye doctors participated in the training program through web-lab sessions, lectures and symposium.

“Through our long-standing relationship with ORBIS, Alcon helps to improve the quality and standard of ophthalmic care in underserved communities throughout the world,” said Sara Woodward, director of Alcon Corporate Humanitarian and Community Services and president of the Alcon Foundation.  “We are truly pleased to see how the transfer of skills that begin with ORBIS never ends. It gains momentum as the doctors, nurses and others who have participated in a Flying Eye Hospital program go on to become trainers themselves.”

After completing the program in Da Nang, the Flying Eye Hospital will continue its journey to its next destination in Vietnam -– Ho Chi Minh City. ORBIS will conduct another intensive training program with the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital from April 7 – 18, 2008. The goal of this program is to strengthen the capacity of the local ophthalmic community in treating and preventing eye diseases prevalent in s outhern Vietnam.

Local supporters

The Da Nang Flying Eye Hospital program would not be possible with the support of the following local partners:

About ORBIS

ORBIS International is a nonprofit global development organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Since 1982, ORBIS programs have benefited people in 86 countries, enhancing the skills of over 195,000 health care personnel and providing eye care treatment for more than 6.8 million people.

ORBIS has collaborated with Vietnam in blindness prevention since 1996. The collaboration has been expanded over the years. In 2008, ORBIS is supporting 14 long-term projects covering 26 out of 64 cities and provinces in the country. To learn more about ORBIS, visit http://www.orbis.org/.

About Alcon

Alcon, Inc., is the world's leading eye care company, with sales of $5.6 billion in 2007. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for more than 60 years, researches, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye. Alcon's majority shareholder is Nestle, S.A., the world's largest food company. Moxifloxacin, the active ingredient in Vigamox(R), is licensed to Alcon from Bayer AG. Ciprodex(R) is a registered trademark of Bayer AG and licensed to Alcon, Inc. by Bayer Healthcare AG.

Media Contacts:

ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital:    Celia Yeung, +84-905152921 or celia.yeung@orbis.org

ORBIS Vietnam:                     Hue Nguyen, +84-902160575 or hue.nguyen@orbis.org