Alcon has reported second-quarter revenues of approximately $2.8 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, prompting the Swiss eyecare specialist to raise its full-year 2026 outlook.

The company now expects 2026 earnings growth of 12% to 15% per diluted share, up from its previous guidance of 10% to 13%. Alcon is holding its full-year sales growth outlook steady at 5% to 7%.

Alcon's surgical segment remained its largest revenue driver, generating around $1.6 billion in the quarter, up 8% year-over-year. Vision care followed with sales of approximately $1.2 billion, also up 8% compared to the same period last year.

Despite the topline growth, Alcon's operating income fell sharply to $11 million in the quarter, down from $247 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decline primarily to its decision to discontinue the intraocular lens (IOL) programmes it acquired from PowerVision in March 2019, which resulted in a pre-tax charge of $402 million in the quarter.

Alcon said the decision followed analysis of the latest clinical study data, which did not produce "acceptable patient outcomes." The company pointed specifically to "persistent unpredictable post-surgical visual outcomes" observed in a subset of patients — issues that could not be resolved despite multiple rounds of development work.

The company released its financial results after markets closed on August 10. Ahead of the market open on August 11, shares on the New York Stock Exchange were trading up around 2%, at $75.10 compared to $73.63 previously (as of 5:08am ET). The company holds a market capitalization of $30.29 billion.

Alcon CEO David Endicott credited the quarter's performance to "strong execution" and a series of recent product launches, including the PanOptix Pro trifocal IOL, which debuted in April 2025.

"Across the portfolio, our innovative products continue to gain traction and expand our market positions, including contact lenses where we are continuing to gain share," Endicott said. "With a robust pipeline and several important launches ahead, we are well positioned to deliver sustainable long-term growth and further strengthen our leadership in eye care."

The Q2 results follow a first quarter marked by the collapse of Alcon's planned acquisition of STAAR Surgical. The company had initially offered $1.6 billion for STAAR before scrapping the deal amid a contentious dispute between STAAR and its shareholders.