FORT WORTH, Texas, July 21, 2015 — Alcon, the global leader in eye care and division of Novartis, has announced the launch of an all–new AIR OPTIX^® COLORS Education Salon designed for contact lens technicians. This comprehensive training program provides participants with the knowledge, tools and confidence to succeed with AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses.

Upon successful completion of the AIR OPTIX^® COLORS Education Salon program, participants will receive an AIR OPTIX^® COLORS Advisor certificate of completion, a digital badge and an on-going e-newsletter with best practices from fellow Advisors. The program is free of charge and available at www.AirOptixColorsEducation.com and through live sessions at the Vision Expo West and East West Eye conferences this fall.

"Fitting color contact lenses requires our technicians to provide honest advice, feedback and encouragement during the try–on experience," said Dr. April Jasper, an optometrist in West Palm Beach, Fla. "More than 40 million consumers are interested in changing their eye color, so we need training and tools to help educate our technicians about fitting color contact lenses, from talking to patients about potential color options to encouraging those who may not have tried color contact lenses to experience them in our office."

The AIR OPTIX^® COLORS Education Salon consists of interactive educational modules on the science behind AIR OPTIX^® COLORS, how to access the unmet demand for eye color options, how to help patients choose AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses in just the right color for them, how to use the online AIR OPTIX^® COLORS Color Studio virtual try–on tool to increase patient options and reduce in–office selection time, and how to enhance patient satisfaction, and grow your practice, through the power and beauty of AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses. Once completed, technicians will be more equipped to help patients choose AIR OPTIX^®COLORS contact lenses – quickly and easily — in a color that is right for them.

The live events will provide a unique opportunity to learn in a social environment with other technicians and learn, first-hand, from their successes. The first live event will take place during the International Vision Expo West in Las Vegas on September 17. A second live event will be held during the East West Eye Conference in Cleveland, Ohio on October 1.

"Contact lens technicians very often play an important role in the fitting of AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses and building a rapport with the patients during their try–on, so we created this program to equip them with resources and information they need to be more confident when talking through options with patients," said Dr. Carla Mack, Director of Professional and Clinical Support at Alcon. "This program provides technicians who complete the program with a certificate of completion that can signal to patients that their contact lens technician has gone above and beyond to make sure patients trying AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses have a great in-office experience."

Technicians who are interested in enhancing their knowledge about AIR OPTIX^® COLORS contact lenses through this training should talk to their Alcon representative or go to www.myalcon.com or www.airoptixcolorseducation.com to register and complete the AIR OPTIX^® Education Salon online training program.

Important information for AIR OPTIX^® COLORS (lotrafilcon B) contact lenses:

For daily wear only for near/far-sightedness. Contact lenses, even if worn for cosmetic reasons, are prescription medical devices that must only be worn under the prescription, direction and supervision of an eye care professional. Serious eye health problems may occur as a result of sharing contact lenses. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. Side effects like discomfort, mild burning or stinging may occur. To help avoid these problems, patients must follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by their eye doctor.

See production instructions for complete wear, care and safety information.