ISTA Pharmaceuticals to Present at 2011 RBC Capital Markets' Healthcare Conference and Cowen and Company's 31st Annual

IRVINE, CA, Feb 25 (MARKET WIRE) --
ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISTA), today announced it will
present at four investor conferences during March 2011, including the
2011 RBC Capital Markets' Healthcare Conference and Cowen and Company's
31st Annual Health Care Conference. During the conferences, the Company
will provide an update on ISTA's marketed products and clinical programs,
competitive position and strategy.

ISTA's presentation schedule for the month of March will be as follows:

The Wall Street Analyst Forum's 22nd Annual Institutional Investor
Conference (New York, NY)
March 1, 12:50 pm ET
Vicente Anido, Jr.,
Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide a presentation
on ISTA followed by a brief Q&A session.

2011 RBC Capital Markets' Healthcare Conference (New York, NY)
March 2,
4:05 pm ET
Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer, will participate in a fireside chat.

Cowen and Company's 31st Annual Health Care Conference (Boston, MA)

March 8, 8:00 am ET
Lauren Silvernail, Chief Financial Officer and Vice
President of Corporate Development, will provide a presentation on ISTA
followed by a brief Q&A session.

ROTH Capital Partner's 23rd Annual OC Growth Stock Conference (Dana
Point, CA)
March 15, 12:30 pm PT
Lauren Silvernail, Chief Financial
Officer and Vice President of Corporate Development, will provide a
presentation on ISTA followed by a brief Q&A session.

The presentations will be webcast. To access the live audio broadcast of
the presentations, or the subsequent archived recordings, log onto
http://www.istavision.com/investors.html. Please connect to the website
several minutes prior to the start of the webcast to ensure adequate time
for any software download that may be necessary.

ABOUT ISTA PHARMACEUTICALS
ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the fourth
largest and fastest growing branded prescription eye care business in the
United States, with an expanding focus on allergy therapeutics. ISTA
currently markets five products, including treatments for ocular
inflammation and pain post-cataract surgery, glaucoma and ocular itching
associated with allergic conjunctivitis. The company's development
pipeline contains additional candidates in various stages of development
to treat dry eye, ocular inflammation and pain and nasal allergies.
Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company generated 2010 revenues
of $157 million. For additional information about ISTA Pharmaceuticals,
please visit the corporate website at www.istavision.com.

CONTACTS
Investor Relations Contacts at ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
Lauren Silvernail
949-788-5302
lsilvernail@istavision.com

Jeanie Herbert
949-789-3159
jherbert@istavision.com

Media and Additional Investor Relations Contacts at Burns McClellan:
Justin Jackson (Media)
212-213-0006
jjackson@burnsmc.com

Juliane Snowden (Investor Relations)
212-213-0006
jsnowden@burnsmc.com

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