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Systane Steps Up to the Plate as the Official Eye Drop of the Toronto Blue Jays, Raising Awareness of Dry Eye in Canada

  • New partnership raises awareness of dry eye, a condition affecting an estimated 8.5 million Canadians1, helping fans stay comfortable throughout the game.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 7, 2026-- This season, Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, announced that Systane® has partnered with the Toronto Blue Jays as the official eye drop of the team. The partnershipaims to help Canadians recognize the signs of dry eye and stay comfortable throughout the game.

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Systane Steps Up to the Plate as the Official Eye Drop of the Toronto Blue Jays, Raising Awareness of Dry Eye in Canada

Systane Steps Up to the Plate as the Official Eye Drop of the Toronto Blue Jays, Raising Awareness of Dry Eye in Canada

For the estimated 8.5 million Canadians living with dry eye, symptoms such as stinging, burning, tired, irritated and watery eyes can appear during everyday activities - including watching live sports.1,4 Yet many people don’t immediately recognize these symptoms as dry eye5 or realize that simple management can help them stay comfortable for the season’s most memorable moments.

As the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate their historic 50th season, fans across Canada are gearing up for everything that makes baseball iconic - sunny afternoons at the ballpark, nail-biting innings, and the big plays fans talk about long after the game ends.

From first pitch to final out, baseball keeps fans engaged for hours at a time. Long games, bright stadium lights and extended screen viewing can quietly put extra strain on the eyes,2,3 and when dry eye sets in, it can make it harder for fans to see the action.

“A season like this is about soaking in every moment, especially as the Blue Jays mark 50 seasons of baseball,” said Vanessa Johari Hansen, Vision Care Franchise Head. Alcon Canada. “Dry eye is common and often overlooked, and it can disrupt an experience more than many people realize. Through this partnership, we’re helping Canadians recognize the signs of dry eye early so they can stay comfortable for the moments that make the season unforgettable.”

“Our fans bring intense passion to every game,” said Mark Ditmars, VP of Corporate Partnerships, Toronto Blue Jays. “As we celebrate this milestone season, we’re excited to welcome Systane as an official partner of the Toronto Blue Jays. Together, we will raise awareness of dry eye to help ensure fans can watch our games comfortably whether they’re cheering from the ballpark or from home.”

Through stadium activations, digital experiences and national awareness initiatives, the partnership will help bring the conversation around dry eye to millions of Canadian fans throughout the season - whether they’re watching from the ballpark or at home.

Effective dry eye management plays an important role in supporting visual comfort during everyday activities, including watching live sports. As the #1 doctor and pharmacist-recommended brand in the dry eye category in Canada,6 Systane is a trusted dry eye dropdesigned with a unique combination of ingredients to provide effective dry eye symptom relief.7-10

As the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate five decades of unforgettable baseball moments, Systane is proud to support fans throughout the season - helping them stay comfortable so they don’t miss a moment that matters.

Important Information for the Systane® Family of Products

Systane lubricant eye drops have been clinically proven to reduce the symptoms of dry eye, providing fast, long-lasting relief and comfort. Systane is the #1 global consumer brand of artificial tears.11 Systane COMPLETE provides multi symptom relief for all types of dry eyes.9,12,13 Systane HYDRATION gives long-lasting relief of dry eye symptoms for moderate, chronic sufferers*14,17,20 or patients recovering from cataract surgery and seeking dry eye relief.15,16 Systane® ULTRA provides fast-acting relief17,18 and is designed for dry eye with aqueous-deficient patients.18,19 Learn more at https://systane.myalcon.com/en-ca/.

About Alcon

Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.ca.

*In vitro data

References

  1. Chan C, Ziai S, Myageri V, et al. Economic burden and loss of quality of life from dry eye disease in Canada. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2021;6(1):e000709. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000709.
  2. Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Dry eye. CNIB. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.cnib.ca/en/dry-eye.
  3. Mehra D, Galor A. Digital Screen Use and Dry Eye: A Review. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2020;9(6):491-497. doi:10.1097/APO.0000000000000328.
  4. National Eye Institute. Facts about dry eye. National Institutes of Health. Published September 2015. https://www.nei.nih.gov/sites/default/files/health-pdfs/factsaboutdryeye.pdf
  5. Alcon Data on File. REF-02584. 2019.
  6. Alcon Data on File. REF-29181. 2025.
  7. Srinivasan S, Venkiteshwar M. A Decade of Effective Dry Eye Disease Management with Systane Ultra (Polyethylene Glycol/Propylene Glycol with Hydroxypropyl Guar) Lubricant Eye Drops Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:2421-2435. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S294427.
  8. Srinivasan S, Garofalo R, Williams R. Safe and Effective Management of Dry Eye Symptoms with Hydroxypropyl Guar and Hyaluronic Acid Dual-Polymer Lubricating Eye Drops: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies Clin Ophthalmol. 2023;17:3883-3898. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S428725/
  9. Bickle K, Miller JR, Tauber J, Awisi-Gyau D. Multi-symptom relief with Propylene Glycol-Hydroxypropyl-Guar Nanoemulsion lubricant eye drops in subjects with dry eye disease: A post-marketing prospective study. Ophthalmol Ther. 2024;13(2):481-494. doi:10.1007/s40123-023-00853-3
  10. Springs CL. Novel ocular lubricant containing an intelligent delivery system: details of its mechanism of action. In: Baudouin C, Aragona P, eds. Developments in Ophthalmology. Vol 45. Basel, Switzerland: Karger; 2010:139-147.
  11. Alcon Data on File. REF-19808. 2025.
  12. Silverstein S, Yeu E, Tauber J, Guillon M, Jones L, Galarreta D, et al. Symptom relief following a single dose of propylene glycol–hydroxypropyl guar nanoemulsion in patients with dry eye disease: a phase IV, multicenter trial. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020;14:3167-3177. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S263362
  13. Alcon Data on File. REF-20875. 2023.
  14. Rolando M, Autori S, Badino F, Barabino S. Protecting the ocular surface and improving the quality of life of dry eye patients: a study of the efficacy of an HP-guar–containing ocular lubricant in a population of dry eye patients. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2009;25(3):271-278. doi:10.1089/jop.2008.0026
  15. Alcon Data on File. REF-23974. 2024.
  16. Alcon Data on File. REF-23973. 2024
  17. Davitt WF, Bloomenstein M, Christensen M, Martin AE. Efficacy in patients with dry eye after treatment with a new lubricant eye drop formulation. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2010;26(4):347-353. doi:10.1089/jop.2010.0025.
  18. Aguilar A, Berra M, Trédicce J, Berra A. Efficacy of polyethylene glycol–propylene glycol–based lubricant eye drops in reducing squamous metaplasia in patients with dry eye disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018;12:1443-1449. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S164888.
  19. Moon SW, Hwang JH, Chung SH, Nam KH. The impact of artificial tears containing hydroxypropyl guar on the mucous layer. Cornea. 2010;29(12):1430-1435.
  20. Rangarajan R, Kraybill B, Ogundele A, Ketelson HA. Effects of a hyaluronic acid/hydroxypropyl guar artificial tear solution on protection, recovery, and lubricity in models of corneal epithelium. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2015;31(8):491-497. doi:10.1089/jop.2014.0164

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Media Relations
Alcon United States
Luiza Barros
luiza.barros@alcon.com

NATIONAL Public Relations Canada (for Alcon)
Sasha Sheludko
ssheludko@national.ca

Source: Alcon Canada Inc.