Historical Archives

Expansive Offering Enhances and Broadens Bausch + Lomb’s Surgical Portfolio of IOL Options for Surgeons and Patients 

FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company, and HOYA Surgical Optics, the worldwide leader in preloaded IOL delivery systems with over 4 million units implanted to date, today announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive agreement under which Bausch + Lomb will distribute and commercialize HOYA’s comprehensive portfolio of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and injectors in the U.S. The long-term agreement significantly expands Bausch + Lomb’s Surgical intraocular lens portfolio by providing the company immediate access to HOYA’s commercially available lenses and injector systems, increasing its reach and creating opportunity for future growth particularly in the pre-loaded lens market.

“We are extremely pleased to enter this strategic partnership agreement with HOYA, who has a strong history of providing exceptional IOLs and inserters, to further strengthen and diversify Bausch + Lomb’s Surgical portfolio,” said Andy Chang, general manager and senior vice president, U.S. Surgical, Bausch + Lomb. “The combination of HOYA’s offerings with our surgical platforms and technologies will provide our customers multiple product options to help them provide the best possible cataract surgery outcomes and excellence in patient care. In addition to the terrific growth we’ve seen in our IOL portfolio, we look forward to accelerating our performance by combining both companies’ IOL platforms. This alliance is yet another example of our continued commitment to delivering the innovative, state-of-the-art products that surgeons demand through both industry partnerships and our internal R&D programs.”

Under the transaction, Bausch + Lomb will assume responsibility for all distribution activities of HOYA’s full line of intraocular lenses and injectors in the U.S., which include the HOYA iSert® 250/251 (single-piece preloaded IOL system, clear and yellow filters), the HOYA iSert® 230/231 (three-piece preloaded, clear and yellow filters), and the HOYA FC60AD/FY60AD (three-piece manual load, clear and yellow filters).  In addition, the companies are co-developing a new pre-loaded IOL platform offering a new optic design that will further enhance the capabilities for surgeons to provide excellent quality of vision for their patients in the United States.

“We are delighted that this collaboration with Bausch + Lomb, one of the best known and most respected eye care companies in the world, will expand access to our portfolio of IOLs and injectors through its broad distribution network in the U.S.,” said John Goltermann Lassen, chief executive officer at HOYA Surgical Optics. “We look forward to embarking on this long-term partnership to introduce a broader range of products and novel, next generation designs to help improve the vision and quality of life for patients suffering from cataracts.”

“This agreement between Bausch + Lomb and HOYA is exciting news for the U.S. ophthalmic community, as it expands the choices we have available in lens technology today, while creating an IOL innovation powerhouse to meet our evolving needs in the future,” said Robert Osher, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the College of Medicine of the University of Cincinnati, and medical director emeritus of the Cincinnati Eye Institute. “The combination of the broad range of HOYA implants and injectors, with the extensive surgical platform that Bausch + Lomb continues to advance, is helping to provide the innovations and tools needed to offer each of our cataract patients the best possible visual outcomes.”

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing and restoring people’s eyesight. Our core businesses include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. We develop, manufacture and market one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in our industry, which is available in more than 100 countries. 

About HOYA Group
Since its establishment in 1941 as a specialty manufacturer of optical glass, HOYA has diversified into new business areas that exploit the potential of advanced optics technologies including implantable intraocular lenses. The Group has continued to grow as a global enterprise through the expansion of its diverse business activities, which encompass information technologies, eye care, medical, and imaging.

All other product/brand names or logos are trademarks of their respective owners.
© 2016 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.

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News Media Contacts:

Kristy Marks
Manager, Product PR, Bausch + Lomb
(908) 927-0683 or kristy.marks@bausch.com  

Teresa Panas
BioComm Network, on behalf of Bausch + Lomb
(973) 809-8590 or tpanas@biocommnetwork.com

Michele Gray
BioComm Network, on behalf of Bausch + Lomb
(917) 449-9250 or michele_gray@me.com