History + Heritage

J. J. Bausch opens an optical goods store in Rochester, New York. He borrows $60 from friend Henry Lomb to expand the business, sealing the deal with a handshake.

J. J. Bausch’s revolutionary Vulcanite eyeglass frames become the first great success for the young company.

Bausch + Lomb begins microscope production.

Edward Bausch, J. J.’s son, patents the “between the lens” iris diaphragm and shutter, helping to give rise to snapshot photography.

Bausch + Lomb introduces the Balopticon slide projector.

Bausch + Lomb introduces Honorary Science Award for high school students; hundreds of thousands of awards have been bestowed since.

The first Ray-Ban aviator goggles for military pilots are produced.

The first films made with the CinemaScope lens premiered in movie theaters, bringing widescreen movie projection to the big screen.

Bausch + Lomb receives an Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for contributions to the advancement of the motion-picture industry.

First images of the surface of the moon are taken using Bausch + Lomb Super Baltar lenses.

Bausch + Lomb launches SofLens® contact lenses, the first mass-produced soft contact lens in the United States.

The company creates its first toric contact lens, and the following year launches its first bifocal contact lens.

Polymer Technology Corporation, a leader in rigid gas permeable contact lenses and solutions, is acquired; the Boston® contact lenses and solutions brands join the Bausch + Lomb portfolio.

Bausch + Lomb expands into ophthalmic pharmaceuticals by acquiring Dr. Mann Pharma, and then the following year, Pharmafair Inc.

ReNu® multipurpose solution for soft contact lenses is launched.

Bausch + Lomb releases 15 new pharmaceutical products, greatly expanding its pharmaceutical portfolio.

Bausch + Lomb establishes a surgical business unit through acquisitions of Chiron Vision and Storz® Ophthalmics, focusing on cataract, refractive and vitreoretinal surgery.

LOTEMAX® (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) 0.5% and Alrex® (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension) 0.2% are launched.

PureVision® contact lenses, the first silicone hydrogel contact lenses in the United States, are launched.

Bausch + Lomb launches PreserVision® brand of eye vitamins, after supporting the landmark National Eye Institute AREDS study.

Retisert® (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) 0.59 mg is approved by the FDA as an orphan drug.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA clearance for SofLens® daily disposable contact lenses.

The Stellaris® vision enhancement system is launched, breaking new ground in cataract surgery.

Eyeonics is acquired, adding Crystalens® IOL—the first FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens for the treatment of cataracts—to the Bausch + Lomb portfolio.

Besivance® (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension) 0.6% is introduced.

Biotrue® multi-purpose solution and PureVision®2 contact lenses are introduced.

Bausch + Lomb launches LOTEMAX® Ointment (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic ointment) 0.5%.

Bausch + Lomb completes the acquisition of ISTA Pharmaceuticals and adds Bromday® (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.09%, Bepreve® (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5%, Istalol® (timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) 0.5%, and Vitrase® (hyaluronidase for injection) to its product portfolio.

Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision receive FDA clearance for VICTUS® Femtosecond Laser Platform.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA clearance for Biotrue® ONEday daily disposable contact lenses.

Bausch + Lomb and Technolas Perfect Vision receive FDA clearance for Victus® Femtosecond Laser Platform.

LOTEMAX® Gel (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel) 0.5% and PROLENSA® (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.07% are introduced.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA approval for TRULIGN® toric intraocular lens.

PreserVision® AREDS 2 Formula eye vitamin and mineral supplement is introduced.

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA® silicone hydrogel monthly contact lenses and Biotrue® ONEday for Presbyopia contact lenses are introduced.

Synergetics USA Inc. and Acrivet are acquired, expanding the surgical product portfolio to include retina surgery products and veterinary ophthalmic products, respectively.

Acquisition of Alden Optical Laboratories increases access to specialty modalities, including the Zenlens™ scleral lens and NovaKone® soft contact lens for keratoconus.

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA® for Presbyopia is launched.

Bausch + Lomb launches Stellaris Elite® vision enhancement system for cataract and retina surgery.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA approval for VYZULTA® (latanoprostene bunod ophthalmic solution) 0.024%.

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA® for Astigmatism and Biotrue® ONEday for Astigmatism are introduced.

First-in-class eyeTELLIGENCE™ application is now available exclusively on the Stellaris Elite® vision enhancement system.

Bausch + Lomb launches LUMIFY® redness reliever eye drops, the first and only over-the-counter eye drop with low-dose brimonidine tartrate for the relief of eye redness.

LOTEMAX® SM (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel) 0.38% receives FDA approval; enVista® toric MX60ET hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with StableFlex™ technology is launched.

Bausch + Lomb ULTRA® Multifocal for Astigmatism is launched.

Bausch + Lomb launches INFUSE® daily disposable contact lenses.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA approval for ClearVisc™ dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD).

Bausch + Lomb launches XIPERE® (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) for suprachoroidal use as well as Project Watson™ health care products for dogs.

Bausch + Lomb receives FDA approval for MIEBO™ (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution) to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease; Bausch + Lomb INFUSE® Multifocal daily disposable contact lenses are launched.