HUENENBERG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcon, Inc. (NYSE:ACL) reported global sales rose 5.9 percent to $1,614 million for the third quarter of 2009, or a 9.0 percent increase excluding the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations. Net earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $515 million, or $1.71 per diluted share. Excluding the impact of a $240 million tax benefit related to the refractive product line in 2008 and the impact of continuing expenses related to the first quarter 2009 reduction in force, adjusted net earnings for the third quarter 2009 would have grown 33.3 percent compared to non-GAAP adjusted net earnings for the third quarter of 2008.
