Kristen Brotherson, general manager, U.S. Vision Care, Alcon, provides updates to the company's WaterInnovations contact lens portfolio and its MARLO App at Optometry's Meeting.

  
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—At a media briefing held Thursday at Optometry’s Meeting, Alcon announced that its MARLO App for eyecare professionals is now available on Android for the first time, and provided an update on the company’s WaterInnovations contact lenses that offer all-day comfort, according to the company. Alcon also provided an update on its OTC products for dry and itchy eyes, including Systane and Pataday eye drops. “We are consistently talking to ECPs to meet actual needs,” said Kristen Brotherson, general manager, U.S. Vision Care at Alcon.

“WaterInnovations was born from both ECP and patient needs. With the rates of astigmatism, presbyopia and digital device dryness all on the rise, our range of WaterInnovations contact lenses were each purpose-built to deliver all-day comfort. We also recognize that today’s patients expect connectivity and easy-to-use technology in eyecare—the same as they experience in other aspects of their lives,” Brotherson said.

In addition to the update on the WaterInnovations portfolio on contact lenses, Alcon also touched on the importance of addressing the emerging dry eye marketplace. The company showcased its two OTC eye drops, Systane lubricant eye drops and its Pataday once daily eye allergy itch eye drop.

 
“We are seeing the dry eye market grow rapidly,” said Brotherson. “It’s important to educate the consumer in order to choose the right eye drop.”

Previously available for Apple phones only, Alcon announced that the MARLO App is now available for Android. According to the company, MARLO was developed as an online site to help ECPs extend the reach of their practices by ensuring a personalized contact lens ordering experience available 24/7, as well as the convenience of exam date reminders, helpful contact lens tips and reorder notifications. With the introduction of the MARLO App, Alcon is making it easier for ECPs and their patients to stay connected between visits, according to the company.

“We’ve worked diligently to ensure that more eyecare professionals and patients can access the benefits of MARLO, our digital eyecare ally that keeps patients and reorders with the practice,” Brotherson said. 

Carla Mack, OD, head, global and U.S. professional education and development at Alcon, added that the company had recently extended its global partnership for dry eye disease education with the World Council of Optometry (WCO). “This allows us to educate optometrists all over the world,” Mack said.