Alcon profit rises on demand for eye-care drugs

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.

Excluding special items, the company said it earned $1.31 per share. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Gary Hill)