Dominik Beck
Analyst · Richard Lynn
Thank you, Susan. On the last quarter's call, I had just arrived at the company. Since that time, I have been able to spend a large part of my time with employees, customers, partners and suppliers in an effort to get a read on where we need to improve our services and focus our efforts. While that work has never completed, the past weeks and months had been valuable in validating and refining our strategic plans. And most importantly, we executed on a number of key elements.
Specifically, by selling our Aesthetics Laser business, we can now focus solely on our ophthalmology business. By entering into a distribution agreement with Alcon, we have taken the next big step in making consumable products a key part of our growth plan. And since the American Academy of Ophthalmology, when we first introduced MicroPulse as an upcharge option for all our laser platforms, we have fast-growing affirmation that vision-preserving MicroPulse laser therapy is the way of the future beyond treatment of diabetic macular edema. It makes more economic sense to healthcare systems, it is more profitable for physicians and healthcare providers, and it has improved clinical outcomes for the patient compared to the current standard care.
We now have 10 year data and a pronouncement from the UK's National institute of Health and Clinical Excellence to support our assertion. With those initiatives behind us, it is time to focus solely on growth and efficiency. And I will begin to outline those plans today and will continue to drive those 2 areas as essential focus of IRIDEX.
This afternoon we presented the fourth quarter results for our continuing ophthalmology business. Before reviewing those results, I want to spend a moment explaining our rationale for the sale of our Aesthetics business. As you can see from the results, the Aesthetics business was a contributing asset, but the contribution was diminishing over time because we were keeping investment in this business to a minimum for a number of years. To maximize the revenue potential of the product portfolio, we would have needed to make significant investments in both market and product development.
Strategically, I thought this would take our company in the wrong direction and so the timing was right to find a befitting home for the product portfolio and the associated employees.
Finally, a potentially flattered declining Aesthetics business would have mass growth in our core ophthalmology as our new initiatives kick in and we believe that an increasing top line is key in growing shareholder interest and participation.
We see Cutera as a perfect home and we are pleased to have executed this transaction that is specifically true for our Aesthetic customers, as I am convinced that they will continue to experience excellent product and service delivered by Cutera. I would like to thank all our Aesthetics employees for the contributions over the last couple of years and the support and the smooth transition.
Even though the Aesthetics field closed in February 12, in accordance with accounting guidance, we have reported our financial results for our continuing Ophthalmology business, which gives investive clarity on the business as it stands now and I will focus my comments on our Ophthalmology performance for the fourth quarter and for the year 2011 and Jim will go into more details later on.
Revenue for the fourth quarter 2011 were $8.6 million, down 5% from $9 million for the fourth quarter 2010. In Q4 2011, we saw a very strong domestic equipment sales, as some of our targeting marketing programs kicked in and we have $200,000 of international sales per show [ph] due to delay in registration.
Our recurring revenue were flat compared to the prior year. However, we are looking forward to our relationship with Alcon having a positive impact of these revenues in, 2012. Overall, a mix performance for the quarter but many reasons to look forward to a positive year of growth in 2012.
For the year, our revenues were up $33.2 million compared to $32.3 million in 2010. But this was below our expectations. We will be rolling out marketing programs and introducing new products in, 2012 to drive increased revenue growth in, 2012. And I will return to this topic in my closing remarks.
When we presented to investors price through divestiture of Aesthetics business, we indicated that we believe that gross margins would improve, presuming the Aesthetics business were sold. And I am pleased to announce that our gross margins have taken a step up. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 49.6%, compared to 49.4% for 2010. And gross margin for the year 2011 was 49.1%, compared to 50.1% in 2010.
One of the items that I have identified to move the company forward and generate higher gross margin is a lean manufacturing initiative. We intend to move forward that initiative immediately. I believe that with lean manufacturing, we can remove costs from our manufacturing processes, which will move our gross margins above 50%. It is also worth noting that our gross margin is 50% with 25% less revenue flowing through the factory as a result of the sale of Aesthetics business. As we see revenues grow, we should experience improved margins due to increased overhead efficiencies.
We did invest more in research and development and marketing in the fourth quarter to accelerate certain product development programs and to drive customer adoption of MicroPulse. And we benefited from receiving the upfront payment from Alcon that was part of our distribution licensing agreement.
Without the Alcon payment, our operating expenses were $4.4 million. With a plan to continue our investments in R&D, marketing and sales, $4.4 million is indicative of what we are targeting for an average quarterly investment in operating expenses going forward.
For 2012, our goal is to generate our fourth consecutive year of profits. Although the first quarter 2012 may be around breakeven.
Let me spend a minute describing the Alcon deal because we see that as a good win for our consumable strategy. As part of the RetinaLabs acquisition, we completed in April 2010, we acquired certain products and patents. One was a GreenTip Soft Tip Cannula. A cannula is used during a vitrectomy when an approximately 6% of the cases of gas fluid exchange performance procedure is performed. A soft tip is used for the removal of intraocular fluids and is green for better visualization and safety. These are the logical product addition to our EndoProbe line of product that are also used in the same procedure.
Alcon is a dominant force in the vitrectomy surgery suite, and by joining forces with them, we have generated substantial new revenue opportunities. This one simple product, with an ASP of less than $20 has a possibility of contributing more than $1 million in sales annually. We continue to work on the other product and IP we acquired from RetinaLabs and intend to launch related products in 2012.
We will also explore other opportunities to work together with Alcon in the consumable side of the business. The other 2 pieces of news that highlighted the quarter positively impact our MicroPulse initiative. As many of you are aware, the company pioneered a vision preserving laser therapy for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy using our MicroPulse technology. With the recent publication of the seminal study by Dr. Latrell, we now have 10 year data supporting the effectiveness and safety of MicroPulse.
In addition, there is growing global sentiment that physicians and health care system need to find more cost-effective ways to treat an ever-increasing population of patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. In the U.K. the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence has rejected the use of Lucentis in favor of conventional laser photocoagulation. We see this trend only becoming stronger as the benefit of vision preserving laser therapy over conventional laser photocoagulation become more widely accepted.
So now, I will turn the call over to Jim to go over more of the details of our financial results. And then I will have a few you concluding remarks. Jim?