Fort Worth, Texas, eye-care giant Alcon's quarterly earnings rise 68 percent.

By Maria M. Perotin, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 29--Alcon's earnings climbed 68 percent in the second quarter, as the Fort Worth eye-care giant's global sales topped $1 billion for the first time in a quarter.

The company, which released its financial results after the stock market closed Wednesday, posted profits of $299.2 million, or 96 cents per share.

Jacqualyn Fouse, Alcon's chief financial officer, said the maker of ophthalmic surgery equipment, prescription drugs and consumer eye-care products made strides in markets around the world and across its various product lines.

"We …