Fort Worth’s Visionary Eye Care Giant Celebrated in New Book

From Humble Pharmacy to Global Leader, Alcon’s 75-Year Journey Unfolds

A Fort Worth company, initially a small pharmacy, has achieved international acclaim and scientific advancement, creating thousands of jobs. Alcon Laboratories, established in 1947, is now the subject of a comprehensive book detailing its impactful first five decades.

A Founder’s Legacy Documented

Thomas McDonald, a former Alcon employee with a deep connection to the company, has authored “Alcon Laboratories — A Vision Fulfilled, 1947-1997.” Published by TCU Press, this extensive 450-page volume chronicles the rise of two pharmacists who transformed their small business into a dominant force in the global eye care industry.

McDonald‘s ambition is to ensure the story resonates widely. My major goal, going forward, is to see every Alcon retiree buy a book, purchase it for their families and also purchase a copy to place in the library of their choice, he stated. I want to populate libraries throughout the world with this remarkable story.

Continued Investment and Economic Impact

Despite its current headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Alcon continues to invest significantly in Fort Worth. Officials are considering a tax abatement for a proposed $40 million campus upgrade. This project is expected to secure 1,540 existing jobs, with an average annual salary of $129,987.

The book is also slated for distribution in optometry schools worldwide, with aspirations to be used as a case study in business programs. There is a lot to learn about business in this story, McDonald explained. A lot of people don’t realize that this company dominates the ophthalmic commercial world.

Innovation Fueled by Research and Development

Alcon’s success is largely attributed to its unwavering commitment to research and development. Early guidance emphasized the necessity of a robust R&D department for product pipeline innovation. Then-CEO Ed Schollmaier actively pursued knowledge, even attending a program at Harvard University to master the effective use of R&D.

“One thing about the company, when they needed to learn something, they would go out and get it done.”

—Thomas McDonald, Author

Alcon’s influence extends to fostering local entrepreneurship, with former employees founding successful companies like Eosera and Encore Vision, among others. McDonald himself spent 39 years with Alcon, retiring in 2004 as vice president of research and development after earning biology degrees from TCU.

A Landmark Achievement: Betoptic Eye Drops

McDonald expressed particular pride in his involvement in developing Betoptic eye drops, Alcon’s inaugural product to achieve $100 million in sales. This anti-glaucoma medication significantly reduced intraocular pressure, offering a safer alternative to existing treatments. There had been anti-glaucoma products on the market before, but they had significant side effects. This one did not, he noted.

The narrative highlights Alcon’s entrepreneurial spirit, a key factor in its growth. And it’s right here in our backyard, McDonald emphasized. It ought to be celebrated, and I don’t feel enough people understand it.

From Local Pharmacy to Global Enterprise

The story of Alcon began in 1945 as a modest Fort Worth pharmacy founded by pharmacists Robert Alexander and William Conner. They officially incorporated in 1947, with an early vision for expansion and a focus on developing specialized eye care products. Their initial outreach involved demonstrating their innovations to doctors at events like the Kiwanis International gathering in California and the American Academy of Ophthalmology conference in Chicago.

Quality was a cornerstone from the outset. It also spilled over into hiring quality people, building quality facilities and so on. Quality was definitely one reason why it became successful, McDonald recounted. This commitment extended to employee well-being, with Alcon being an early adopter of profit-sharing and comprehensive benefits.

Alcon’s trajectory included becoming the second Fort Worth company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1971, following Tandy Corp. in 1960. The company was also an early proponent of international expansion, achieving 40% of its sales overseas by 1997, even before the establishment of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Its global success attracted international attention, leading to acquisitions. Nestlé acquired Alcon in 1977, followed by Novartis in 2010. In 2019, Alcon was spun off from Novartis to re-emerge as an independent, publicly traded entity with its headquarters now in Geneva.

McDonald‘s research involved extensive interviews with retirees and a deep dive into company and Tarrant County archives. I’ve been very fortunate, Alcon has been very helpful with access to archives and such, he said. It’s a story they want told, too.