Carl Zeiss posts revenue growth

Carl Zeiss Meditec announced a 4 percent increase in revenues, to 219 million euros, for the first quarter of 2013 compared to last year's first quarter.

"Our positive overall growth is due, in particular, to the balanced and broad footing of our business," commented Dr. Ludwin Monz, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's president and CEO. "In view of the reserved economic growth in many global markets, the investments we have made in Asia are really paying off now."

The Asia-Pacific region had a 14.1 percent increase in quarterly revenue, while the Europe-Middle East-Africa region had a 1.2 percent increase. Revenue in the Americas region was down 1.3 percent because a strong revenue performance in South America was blunted by negative figures in the United States, the release said.

The company said revenue in its surgical ophthalmology division grew 21.2 percent largely due to a new premium IOL product line, while the microsurgery unit saw a 10.3 percent increase. In contrast, revenues in the ophthalmic systems division were down 6.9 percent, which the company attributed to increased competition within the segment and a decline in OCT revenues.