Alcon announces pipeline update, digital ordering platform
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Alcon executives presented a virtual program at this year’s American Academy of Optometry meeting featuring updates on their eye care product lines and the new digital platform, Marlo, for contact lens ordering.
“We know that the last 7 months have been difficult for everyone, and certainly the impact of COVID-19 has affected the eye care community, whether we’re talking about practitioners, their staff or their patients,” Rick Weisbarth, OD, FAAO, vice president of professional affairs for U.S. Vision Care at Alcon, said during the program. “The theme for today is ‘Brilliant together,’ because it’s our hope that, with our support, Alcon and the eye care community can return to our promise to help people see brilliantly.”
New initiatives from Alcon to support the eye care community include the COVID-19 Recovery Online Resource Center, new Precision1 programs, acceleration of the Marlo digital platform and the Easy Way program designed to promote proper wear and care of contact lenses.
“To help our [eye care providers] during the pandemic, we sought to leverage our recent launch of Precision1,” Sean Clark, general manager of U.S. Vision Care at Alcon, said in the program. Two ways they did this included relaunching the Precision1 Connect program and launching the new Precision1 See Free program, he said.
Alcon also said the new Precision1 daily contact lenses for astigmatism are expected to be available in early 2021.
For patients with meibomian gland dysfunction, Alcon launched the No reason to wait: Success starts now initiative with the Systane iLux device and announced the new Systane iLux2 that features a built-in near infrared meibography camera, white light surface imaging and high-resolution digital visualization.
“Alcon has a large scientific presence at the meeting this year ... the topics span from our surgical portfolio to our vision care portfolio,” Jessica Mathew, OD, PhD, FAAO, medical director for contact lenses and refractive surgery at Alcon, said.
She said their numerous presentations address daily disposable contact lens performance, including during digital device use.
Laura Walker, business unit head of digital innovation at Alcon, presented details of the Marlo digital platform. The platform allows patients to order Alcon contact lenses through their eye care provider. Additionally, patients can track and follow up on orders through text or email.
“The goal of Marlo is to simplify vision care without compromising it. It’s about keeping the eye care professional and their patient connected throughout this journey,” Walker said. “Many independent ECPs cannot compete with the infrastructure of a lot of online retailers, but we think the role of the doctor is critically important in product selection. What we want to do with Marlo is make sure that we’re keeping the eye doctor and their patient connected in that contact lens buying experience.”
Results from a survey of practices who used Marlo showed that 99% were satisfied, 65% felt that Marlo saved them and their staff time, 77% felt they could now compete online, and 70% felt that it simplified their jobs.
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Alcon. Brilliant together: Alcon exclusive media event. Presented at: American Academy of Optometry meeting; October 7-22, 2020; virtual meeting.
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