Alcon, an international eye care company with facilities in Berks County, has announced it plans to acquire STAAR Surgical Co.

Under the terms of the agreement announced Tuesday, Alcon will purchase all outstanding shares of STAAR common stock for $28 per share in cash, in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

Alcon said it plans to finance the transaction through the issuance of short- and long-term credit facilities. The transaction is expected to close within six to 12 months and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval and approval by STAAR’s shareholders. In its release, the company said it expects the transaction to positively impact earnings in year two.

The acquisition includes STAAR’s EVO family of lenses for vision correction for patient

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