Research & Development

With CIBA VISION research centers in Europe and the United States, and through collaborative efforts with renowned research facilities around the world, we explore new materials and devices that continue to yield eye care breakthroughs. Each day, our more than 5,700 employees focus on our shared purpose: To give you Better Eyes for a Better Life.

Our researchers are backed by significant global Research and Development (R&D) resources from both CIBA VISION and Novartis. In 2006, Novartis invested approximately USD 5.4 billion in R&D. Together, we explore and develop innovative approaches to address a variety of vision care needs, eye diseases and conditions.

As a global leader in the eye care industry, CIBA VISION combines innovative thinking with leading-edge processes, dedicated professionals and technological expertise to provide a wide variety of vision correction and ocular health solutions. It is no secret that for contact lenses, our key focus is in three areas:

  • Daily disposable contact lenses
  • Continuous wear lenses
  • Ongoing expansion of our color lenses

One of our goals is to continue our contact lens innovation through the ongoing development of advanced silicon hydrogel materials - the breakthrough material that allows a contact lens to be worn for up to 30 nights and days. In addition to advances in materials, new contact lens designs, such as a multi-focal lens and a new lenses to treat astigmatism, are paramount in our drive for innovation.

We will also continue to expand our color contact lenses with more colors, more styles and more "effects," to give you lenses that meet your needs for subtle changes in your eye color, or your desire for a more noticeable lens effect. Our consumer and practitioner research reports what you want, so that we can design new and exciting color lenses that meet your needs.

In lens care, development focuses on making our lens care solutions even more convenient to use, while continuing to ensure the solutions provide the safety and cleaning power needed to protect the health of your eyes.