Smriti Mandhana joins with Alcon as Brand Ambassador

Cricketer Smriti Mandhana joins with Alcon as brand ambassador for AIR OPTIX® PLUS HYDRAGLYDE® CONTACT LENSES

 by Priya Jadhav

• A visionary company joins hands with a star sportsperson who has a vision to excel and a drive to ‘Never Compromise’ on her dreams
• Alcon celebrates Smriti’s spirit of ‘Never Compromise’ with a new campaign that celebrates dedication, passion and acheivement against the odds
• 'Never Compromise’ supports the launch of AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde® a new product innovation that merges two proprietary technologies - SmartShield™ Technology and HydraGlyde® Moisture Matrix to contact lens wearers don’t need to compromise on comfort and clarity of vision

Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, announces they will be working with Smriti Mandhana, Opener, Indian Women’s Cricket Team, in a new campaign called ‘Never Compromise’. The campaign is designed to recognise and celebrate the everyday struggles and successes of people to reach their dreams.
 
Smriti will join forces with Alcon as the brand ambassador of their new product innovation - AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde®. She will demonstrate how the attitude of ‘Never Compromise’ enables people, teams and organizations to realise their true potential.  Mandhana, as one of the most exciting talents to take stage in the Indian Sports in recent times, Smriti is a great example of not compromising on passion and goals in the face of adversity.

“We are excited to have Smriti Mandhana as the Brand Ambassador for AIR OPTIX®, our monthly portfolio of contact lenses. Smriti refused to compromise on her dreams, or settle for anything less. She was not ready to compromise on either her clarity of vision or her vison for life. Her choice to use Alcon’s AIR OPTIX® plus HYGRAGLYDE® lenses that provide exceptional, long-lasting, all-day comfort1-6 reflects her attitude of ‘Never Compromise’,” says Panchali Upadhaya, Country Business Unit Head, Alcon Laboratories India Private Limited. 
 
Coming from the small town of Sangli in Maharashtra, Smriti battled formidable odds to pursue her passion. She took inspiration from her cricket playing brother to sign up for cricket trials at the age of nine. She quickly made it to Maharashtra’s Under-15 team at the age of nine and Under-19 team, when only eleven. Smriti made a 50 on Test debut, playing a crucial hand in India's historic Test win in England in 2014. She became the second Indian cricketer to feature in a foreign T20 league, scored a World Cup century, another one in Australia, and a double ton in domestic one-day competition. 
 
Smriti Mandhana embodies Alcon’s emphasis on having clear vision at all times. Her ‘Never Compromise’ attitude meant that she always had a clear vision of what she wanted to accomplish, and she persevered to achieve her goals. Suffering from poor eyesight did not deter Smriti in her pursuit. Initially she wore spectacles, but later switched to contact lenses. The effects of traffic pollution off the field and rising dust5 on the contact lenses create an occupational hazard for her, and she felt she was making a compromise. So, she switched to Alcon’s AIROPTIX. Using AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde® contact lenses allows her to see clearly and comfortably, without interruption, setting the stage for her to focus on doing what she does best.

“In life vision is everything. I was always clear in my vision that I wanted to play cricket. And I was not ready to compromise” says Smriti. “That’s why I switched to using AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde® contact lenses. They allow me to see clearly and comfortably, without interruption, and let me focus on doing what I love. I chose to ‘Never Compromise’”

AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde® are monthly disposable contact lenses, with a unique technology SMARTSHIELD®, which repels dust and deposit 1-2, and ensures clear and comfortable vision on the field from day 1 to day 303-4. By combining two leading technologies, SmartShield™ Technology and HydraGlyde® Moisture Matrix, monthly disposable contact lens wearers no longer need to compromise comfort of wearing contact lens through the month.

Over time, dust & grime, protein and lipid (oil) deposits build-up on monthly contact lenses, making them difficult to wear. Additionally, residue from cosmetic products like mascara, eye shadow, eye makeup remover and hand creams can further compromise clarity & comfort of vision and make the lenses uncomfortable. SmartShield™ Technology, a patented technology only available on AIR OPTIX® contact lenses, combats this problem by shielding the contact lens wearer from these dust and deposits1-2. The contact lens wearer has a positive experience with protection from everyday irritants and the added benefit of consistently clear vision.

“Alcon has a simple mission to help people around the world to see better, through advanced surgical and vision care products. To make this possible, Alcon focuses on developing products grounded in cutting-edge innovation and breakthrough technology, combined with an attitude of ‘Never Compromise’ to enhance quality of life though better eye care. We believe that having a clear vision to help people see better and being intensely and uncompromisingly focused is critical to our success,” adds Panchali Upadhaya, Country Business Unit Head, Alcon Laboratories India Private Limited.