FOR RELEASE 5/11/2009, Monday

Bausch & Lomb Akreos® AO IOL Granted New Technology Intraocular Lens (NTIOL) Designation

ALISO VIEJO, CALIF. -- Bausch & Lomb announced today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) granted a New Technology Intraocular Lens (NTIOL) designation to the company’s Akreos^® Advanced Optics Aspheric (Akreos AO) IOL for its spherical aberration reducing design. The NTIOL designation became effective April 30, 2009.

NTIOL designation means the Medicare reimbursement to ambulatory surgery centers for cataract surgery will increase by $50 when surgery is performed with the Akreos AO IOL. This NTIOL subset and adjusted payment for this IOL will remain in effect until February 26, 2011.

“We are pleased that CMS recognized the performance of the Akreos AO lens and its impact on improved vision,” said Brendan Sheil, vice president of Americas Surgical Sales for Bausch & Lomb.

In order to gain inclusion in the NTIOL category, the Akreos AO lens demonstrated the same or greater subset-specific clinical benefit as the lens that established the NTIOL subset.

“This achievement, along with our previous NTIOL designation for aberration-free optics on our silicone portfolio, further establishes B&L’s optics capability and highlights our commitment to quality outcomes for our customers and their patients,” said Tom Frinzi, Bausch & Lomb’s vice president of Worldwide Surgical Commercial Operations.

Aberration-free optics are also incorporated in the company’s portfolio of standard silicone IOLs that received NTIOL approval in March 2007 and which are currently available worldwide.

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Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for people around the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. 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, N.Y., and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.

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