Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, will introduce new products and educational resources to Eye Care Professional (ECP) and paraoptometric audiences at this year’s American Optometric Association (AOA) Optometry’s Meeting taking place June 20-24 in Denver, CO. Notably, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone® Color Institute, will headline the Breakfast Symposium for Paraoptometrics to help debut the new AIR OPTIX® COLORS Gemstone Collection of contact lenses. She will give a presentation to help technicians explore how to engage patients to play with their eye color with subtle or vibrant enhancements. Ms. Eiseman will be joined by Alcon’s Dr. JeanMarie Davis, Director, Professional Relations-Practitioner Partnerships, at the symposium taking place Friday, June 22 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Colorado Convention Center (CCC) in room 501/502.

“Optometry’s Meeting is a great opportunity for Alcon to showcase our passion for helping people see, look and feel their best, and for helping Eye Care Professionals better meet their patients’ needs,” said Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, Vice President of Professional Affairs, Alcon US Vision Care. “The new AIR OPTIX® COLORS Gemstone Collection is the latest addition to our differentiated portfolio and helps drive patient interest in contact lenses and visits to the ECP, even if they don’t need vision correction.”

In addition to the breakfast symposium, Alcon will offer meeting attendees an opportunity to experience all 12 AIR OPTIX® COLORS contact lenses including the three new colors -- Amethyst, True Sapphire and Turquoise -- at Alcon booth #300. Attendees will be able to try on the lenses onsite or virtually through the AIR OPTIX® COLORS Color Studio on iPads, and have their photo taken with their favorite lenses. All AIR OPTIX® COLORS are now available in two- and six-count packs, allowing ECPs and their staffs to introduce more patients to color contact lenses, with or without vision correction.

Additionally, Alcon will offer the following opportunities for attendees to engage with and learn about new products and educational and other resources offered to support ECPs, their practices and patients:

• “Emerging Trends in the Contact Lens Market: Improving Patient Outcomes & Driving Practice Potential” Breakfast Symposium – Thursday, June 21 (8:00-9:00 a.m.) at CCC, Room 505/506: Join Drs. Rick Weisbarth and Carla Mack, Senior Director of Professional Strategy, Alcon US Vision Care, as they assess the latest trends to build a contact lens strategy.
•  “What’s New in Dry Eye? Alcon’s Most Advanced Solution for Every Major Type of Dry Eye” Lunch Symposium – Thursday, June 21 (12:00-1:00 p.m.) at CCC, Room 501/502: Join Drs. Paul Karpecki and Walt Whitley for a lunch symposium to learn more about Alcon’s most advanced drop, designed to provide symptom relief for every major type of dry eye. Following the luncheon, stop by the Alcon booth to refresh your eyes and pick up samples of SYSTANE® Complete.
•  “Co-Managing Your Cataract Patients: Insights on Partnering for Successful Outcomes" Lunch Symposium –  Friday, June 22 (12:00-1:00pm) at CCC, Room 501/502: Industry innovators John Berdahl, MD, Justin Schweitzer, OD, Mitch Ibach, OD, and Kristopher May, OD will discuss collaborative care, toric intraocular lens (IOL) technology, multifocal IOL opportunities and surgical glaucoma.
• Direct-to-Consumer Outreach: Stop by the Alcon booth to view the “See Near and Far” direct-to-consumer national TV ad that shares how DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses can give patients clear, comfortable, seamless vision – near, far and everything in between. Attendees will also get a chance to explore resources in the Alcon Vision Care Marketing Portal (AlconODMarketing.com) aimed at helping ECPs strengthen their online outreach to patients and easily implement an effective social media strategy. There will also be an opportunity to take a virtual reality tour through the anatomy of the eye as part of the Alcon Experience Academy educational offerings.