Alcon Resolves Eye Surgery Device Dispute with J&J, Agrees to Pay $199 Million

Alcon Inc., a global leader in eye care, has reached a settlement agreement with J&J Surgical Vision to resolve their legal proceedings regarding femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery devices, including Alcon's LenSx® device.

Alcon acquired the LenSx device as part of its purchase of LenSx Lasers in 2010. The settlement involves cross-licensing of intellectual property and other covenants and releases, and Alcon will make a one-time payment of USD 199 million to J&J Surgical Vision to resolve worldwide intellectual property disputes.

Alcon and J&J Surgical Vision have resolved their pending legal proceedings by exchanging cross-licenses of certain intellectual property and other mutually agreed covenants and releases. As part of the resolution, Alcon will make a one-time payment of USD 199 million to J&J Surgical Vision to secure the rights and resolve various intellectual property disputes worldwide relating to this matter.

In 2020, J&J Vision sued Alcon, alleging that that Alcon's LenSx system violates twelve patents relating to the use of lasers in cataract surgery. The company claims to have "revolutionized cataract surgery" through the implementation of optical coherence tomography technology, which enables surgeons to control the laser and access the diseased lens for removal and replacement with an artificial one.