11/18/2010, Thursday

Bausch + Lomb Recommends a “Rub and Rinse” Regimen
for Disinfection and Cleaner Contact Lenses

Recommendation Aligns Multi-Purpose Contact Lens Solution Portfolio
to Promote Ocular Health

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- As part of an ongoing initiative that promotes an optimal contact lens wearing experience, Bausch + Lomb is providing a rub and rinse regimen in the directions for use of its multi-purpose contact lens solutions. The initiative includes the removal of the phrase “no rub” from the product labeling of its renu® fresh™ multi-purpose contact lens solution globally.

“Bausch + Lomb is committed to partnering with eye care professionals to ensure excellent vision, comfort and health for contact lens wearing patients,” said Mohinder Merchea, O.D., Ph.D., MBA, director, Medical Affairs, North America Vision Care, Bausch + Lomb. “By choosing to proactively change our multi-purpose solution labeling to only include a rub regimen for cleaning and disinfecting lenses, we are providing patients with the insights we’ve gained from the 92% of eye care professionals who instruct their patients to rub their lenses.”

Bausch + Lomb’s product labeling transition has been under way since the beginning of 2010. Two of the company’s multi-purpose contact lens solutions -- Biotrue ™ and renu ® sensitive ™ -- already include labeling directions to rub and rinse lenses as part of the care and cleaning regimen. In the U.S., the transition from “no rub” to “rub” directions for use of the renu fresh brand will be completed by May 2011.

Along with recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a number of professional eye care associations have also recommended a rub and rinse regimen for effective cleaning of contact lenses. The Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the American Optometric Association states that contact lens wearers should carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, and should rub the lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lenses. Additionally, several professional eye care associations issued joint guidelines and recommendations for contact lens care, which include a recommendation that patients use a rub and rinse step in the lens cleaning process, and that patients replace the lens case frequently to help reduce the risk of infection.

As part of Bausch + Lomb’s rub and rinse initiative, contact lens cleaning directions will be consistent across the company’s global portfolio of multi-purpose contact lens solutions. These directions include rubbing each lens gently for 20 seconds prior to rinsing each side of the lens for five seconds with multi-purpose solution. Lens wearers are advised to then place cleaned contact lenses in a lens case filled with fresh solution, and to soak the lenses for at least four hours. Bausch + Lomb advises lens wearers to always use fresh solution, and to never reuse or “top off” solution. The company has also introduced specific directions to replace the lens case monthly.

“Improving patient hygiene and contact lens wear is an ongoing priority for Bausch + Lomb, and this initiative allows us to help advance patient compliance with lens care directions,” said Joseph Barr, O.D., M.S., vice president, Global Clinical & Medical Affairs, Bausch + Lomb, Vision Care. “We look forward to bringing several additional tools to our clinical partners to help improve patient compliance in the near future.”

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About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to bringing visionary ideas to eye health. Its core businesses include 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, N.Y. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the company can be found at www.bausch.com.

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Bausch + Lomb Recommends a “Rub and Rinse” Regimen for Disinfection and Cleaner Contact Lenses

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Bausch + Lomb Recommends a “Rub and Rinse” Regimen
for Disinfection and Cleaner Contact Lenses