Bausch & Lomb History

BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF INNOVATION IN EYE CARE

Bausch & Lomb has been developing high-quality, innovative products since the company began in 1853. By 1903, the company had patented microscopes, binoculars and a camera shutter based on the eye's reaction to light. As the 20th century progressed, Bausch & Lomb produced the first optical-quality glass made in America, developed groundbreaking sunglasses for the military, and created the lenses for the cameras that took the first satellite pictures of the moon. In 1971, Bausch & Lomb introduced the first soft contact lenses, and remains one of the largest global providers of eye care products. As the trusted leader in eye health, we have the heritage of discovery and the continuing commitment to technological innovation and knowledge sharing that brings eye health professionals and patients together to perfect vision and enhance life.

BAUSCH & LOMB CHRONOLOGY

1853	John Jacob Bausch opens optical goods store in Rochester, New York; spectacle design revolutionized. Bausch borrows money from friend Henry Lomb to expand the business.
1855	Bausch welcomes Lomb as a full partner in the business, which becomes Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
1861	Civil War begins; Henry Lomb enlists.
1872	Company begins production of microscopes.
1880’s	Company produces photographic and cinematographic lenses & shutters.
1893	Company begins manufacturing binoculars and telescopes.
1900	Pension Fund Established. Company now has 1,000 employees.
1902	Company produces slide projectors.
1905	Surveying equipment, range finders & gun sights for the military.
1910	6-day, 53-hour workweek begins.
1912	The founder’s grandson, William Bausch, begins an experimental glass lab at the Rochester plant. B&L continues to make its own optical quality glass until 1986.
1915	First US-made optical quality glass freed the country of dependence on European imports.
1917	World War I begins: optical glass identified as critical to war effort.
1918	5 ½ -day, 48-hour workweek begins.
1929	The Great Depression begins.
1933	5-day, 40-hour workweek begins. Science Award Program introduced.
1937	Company produces the first Ray-Ban® aviator goggles for military pilots.
1938	B&L stock offered to the public.
1941	World War II: 70% of Bausch & Lomb's production was for the military produced three million pounds of optical glass, aerial mapping lenses, vision testers, binoculars, range finders, periscopes, spotting scopes, gas masks, improved Ray-Ban goggles.
1947	Ray-Ban sunglasses become popular fashion accessory; favorite of General Douglas Macarthur.
1955	Received an Oscar from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences for Cinemascope lens first used in "The Robe" & "How to Marry a Millionaire".
1958	B&L stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
1965	Company produces the lenses used in the cameras that took the first satellite pictures of the moon.
1966	Product sales top $100 million for the first time.
1971	Company introduces the world’s first soft contact lens.
1974	1 million patients wear B&L soft contact lens; lens cleaning products introduced.
1975	B&L becomes a Fortune 500 company.
1982	Sensitive Eyes Saline Solution introduced.
1980’s	Global brand recognition expands; Ray-Ban sunglasses in "Risky Business", "The Blues Brothers", "Top Gun", "Moonlighting" and " Miami Vice".
1986	Expansion into eye pharmaceuticals.
1987	The introduction of ReNu all-in-one multipurpose contact lens cleaning solution. Ray-Ban’s 50th Anniversary.
1988	State of the art Optics Research Center opens in Rochester, NY.
1989	Revenues reach $1 billion.
1990’s	Company is a worldwide sponsor of the Olympic Games along with Coca-Cola and Eastman Kodak.
1995	Bausch & Lomb opens its new World Headquarters building in Downtown Rochester.
1997	Bausch & Lomb establishes Eye Surgery Division through acquisitions; focused on laser vision correction, cataract surgery, and retinal surgery. Innovative products included: - The first retinal drug delivery implant to treat AIDS-related ocular disease - Surgical equipment to remove cataracts - Soft, foldable ocular lens implanted during cataract surgery to restore vision - Injectors to implant foldable lenses through minimally-invasive micro incisions - Equipment to perform retinal surgery
1998	ReNu MultiPlus, the world’s first all-in-one contact lens cleaning solution, including enzymes, is launched. SofLens66Toric soft contact lens is launched. Lotemax prescription eye drop introduced for the treatment of postop eye inflammation; Alrex prescription eye drop launched for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Revenues reach $2 billion.
1999	PureVision continuous wear soft contact lens is launched in the U.S. (for up to six-nights and seven days of continuous wear). OptiPranolol prescription eye drop introduced for glaucoma therapy. Acquired leading technologies for laser vision correction including: - The first device to create a flap for the LASIK procedure. - The first diagnostic device to measure the elusive back surface of the cornea.
2000	Introduced the Technolas 217 laser, the first advanced scanning spot laser in the US for laser vision correction.
2001	Ocuvite PreserVision, high potency vitamin and mineral supplement, launched following results from the National Eye Institute’s 10-year study clinically proving the supplement’s value in preserving vision among those most at risk for age-related vision loss. Launched the TSV25, the first sutureless vitectomy system for retinal surgery.
2002	Introduced SofLens Multi-Focal contact lens for presbyopia (aging eye).
2003	FDA approves Zyoptix personalized laser vision correction system to treat the distortions unique to each eye.
2005	Introduced Zylet prescription eye drop, a novel steriod/antibiotic combination therapy. Retisert introduced, the first drug delivery implant for uveitis, a dangerous inflammatory condition in the eye. Launched the Sofport Advance Optic foldable ocular lens implant for cataract surgery, which is the world’s first aberration-free lens implant. Introduced the Zyoptix XP microkeratome, the latest generation flap creation device for LASIK, 2.5 times greater precision than its predecessor.
2006	Continued improvements in the field of laser vision correction with introduction of Zyoptix Advanced Personalized Technologies , including: - Faster scanning laser to reduce treatment time of laser vision correction procedures. - More accurate method to calculate LASIK treatments based upon ground-breaking research at the University of Rochester. - Better diagnostic instrument for custom LASIK. - Trulink™ customer support network to monitor LASIK equipment so your doctor can be confident it’s performing optimally.

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