UPDATE 1-Alcon profit rises on demand for eye-care drugs

(Adds details, product sales, 2008 forecasts)

NEW YORK, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Eye-care company Alcon Inc (ACL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Wednesday said its fourth-quarter earnings rose on higher sales of its prescription drugs and materials used in surgical procedures, bolstered by favorable foreign exchange factors.

The company said it earned $377 million, or $1.25 per share, compared with $355 million, or $1.16 per share in the year-earlier quarter.

Analysts on average expected $1.28 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

The company said its quarterly sales jumped 20 percent to $1.47 billion, but would have risen only about 13 percent if not for the weak dollar, which increases the value of products sold overseas. The Reuters Estimates sales forecast was $1.39 billion.

Overall sales of prescription drugs rose 22 percent to $578 million. The company's line of medicines to treat glaucoma jumped 28 percent to $237 million, while revenue from anti-infective and anti-inflammatory medicines rose 16 percent to $212 million.

Sales of products used in surgical procedures -- including intraocular lenses and cataract products -- jumped 20 percent to $701 million.

For full-year 2008, the company said it expects earnings per share of $6.24 to $6.30, including expenses related to expansion and relocation of its Swiss operations.

It projected 2008 sales of $6.18 billion to $6.28 billion, or up to 12 percent higher than sales last year of $5.60 billion. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Gary Hill)