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Patients Refit With Bausch & Lomb’s PureVision® Toric Contact Lens Obtain Better Vision Compared to Leading Toric SiHy Lens

For Release THURSDAY, December 21, 2006

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A recent nationwide clinical evaluation of 107 patients originally fit with Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism (AAA) found that 74.5% of eyes achieved 20/20 or better visual acuity at the outset of the study. However, when refit with PureVision Toric lenses, the number of eyes achieving 20/20 or better visual acuity increased to 85.2%.

“Toric silicone hydrogel lenses provide practitioners the opportunity to upgrade conventional toric lens wearers to newer materials and design technologies,” said Bill Reindel, O.D., M.S., Bausch & Lomb director of Scientific and Clinical Affairs. “While some similarities may exist between how the new silicone hydrogel toric lenses fit a patient, the better visual acuity measured for the eyes fit with PureVision Toric lenses highlight unique characteristics of its material and optical design.”

Eighteen independent practitioners participated in this open-label prospective, multi-center study. Practitioners assessed the AAA lenses for lens orientation, centration, movement and visual acuity. Following subjects being refit with PureVision Toric lenses, practitioners again measured lens orientation, centration, movement, and visual acuity after two weeks of wear.

Key highlights related to fitting characteristics included:

The percentage of eyes with 20/20 or better visual acuity for the eyes fit with the AAA lenses was 74.5%; compared with 85.9% for PureVision Toric at the dispensing visit and 85.2% for PureVision Toric on the follow-up evaluation. For both PureVision Toric evaluations, the PureVision Toric lenses had significantly more eyes with 20/20 or better visual acuity (p<0.05).
Practitioners reported that 77.5% of the AAA lenses were fully centered on the eye; compared with 88.0% for PureVision Toric at the dispensing visit and 90.6% for PureVision Toric on the second visit. The difference in proportions was statistically significant (p<0.05) with PureVision Toric at both visits being fully centered more frequently.

The orientation of the AAA lenses was measured to be from 0 to 5 degrees rotation for 81.1% of the eyes. Rotation of 0 to 5 degrees was reported for 84.9% and 77.9% of eyes fitted with PureVision Toric lenses at the respective dispensing and follow-up visits. A comparison of the proportion of lenses that had an orientation of 0 to 5 degrees demonstrated that there was no significant difference between AAA and PureVision Toric lenses.

“The PureVision Toric lens’ aspheric anterior and toric posterior surface design, the unique stabilization architecture, and distinctive material characteristics combine to provide exceptional stability, centration, and vision,” said Reindel, “This study demonstrated that factors such as lens design and lens centration can contribute to the better vision provided by PureVision Toric lenses.”

For more information about the PureVision Toric contact lens and its recently expanded the range of powers (+6.00 D to –9.00 D) as well as the complete portfolio of Bausch & Lomb products, visit the Company’s website at: www.bausch.com.

Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb’s 2004 revenues were $2.2 billion; it employs approximately 13,700 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company is on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com. Copyright Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

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