DUBLIN, Ireland—Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) reported Tuesday that its first-quarter sales rose 5 percent to $3.6 billion compared with the year-ago quarter, and non-GAAP adjusted operating income from continuing operations totaled $1.6 billion, a decrease of 7 percent. The company cited higher operating expenses in the 2017 first quarter as a factor in the drop-off in operating income.

The sales growth in the quarter, which ended March 31, was driven by a “strong performance” in facial aesthetics, Botox therapeutic and eyecare products, among other product segments, Allergan said in a statement.

“2017 is a pivotal year for Allergan, and we started with a solid, well-executed first quarter,” chairman and chief executive officer Brent Saunders said in the statement. Many of our key brands continued to deliver significant year-over-year growth ... We also saw strong performance from our newer launch products.”

Allergan reported that its non-GAAP adjusted operating income from continuing operations totaled $1.6 billion in the first quarter, a decrease of 7 percent compared with the prior year quarter. The company cited higher operating expenses as a factor in the decline.

Saunders also commended the R&D team for continuing to “advance many of our six ‘star’ R&D programs and deliver FDA approvals,” including TrueTear, the first intranasal neurostimulating device proven to temporarily increase tear production.

In the eyecare business segment in the U.S. market, sales rose 3.8 percent to $553.1 million from $533 million in the first quarter of 2016. The company said its eyecare franchise delivered “solid results versus prior year,” led in part by Restasis, which saw net revenues rise 3 percent to $308.8 million in the first quarter. The glaucoma franchise “experienced a modest decline, with Alphagan / Combigan net revenues in the first quarter of 2017 remaining stable at $86.4 million, while Lumigan / Ganfort net revenues of $74.3 million declined 9 percent versus prior year quarter.” Allergan attributed the decline for Lumigan/Ganfort to “lower demand and trade buying patterns.”

Sales of Ozurdex in the first quarter “were strong at $22.5 million, up 16 percent versus prior year quarter, driven by continued strong demand from the diabetic macular edema indication, Allergan said.

Allergan raised its sales forecast for 2017 to a range of $15.8 billion to $16 billion, due in part to recent acquisitions.