Bausch & Lomb Creates Corporate Strategy Position; Consolidates Communications Functions.

Business Editors

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2001

Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (NYSE: BOL)

-- Angela J. Panzarella named corporate vice president - Strategy

-- Barbara M. Kelley named corporate vice president -

Communications and Investor Relations 

Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (NYSE: BOL) announces the creation of a new corporate strategy position to focus company resources and attention on strategic market analysis and planning for its global eye care businesses.

In addition, all internal and external communications, including the investor relations function, now are combined into one department.

Chairman and CEO William H. Waltrip announces that Angela J. Panzarella, who was most recently the vice president of Investor Relations, will fill the new role of corporate vice president - Strategy.

"Building on our platform of product- and region-specific strategies, this new position will fortify the development of a cohesive and coordinated company-wide strategy with true global perspective," said Waltrip. "Angela Panzarella has the breadth of experience - encompassing both operating assignments and relating directly with our investors - to provide outstanding leadership in this essential role."

Panzarella joined Bausch & Lomb in 1988 as counsel in the Law Department, subsequently progressing through assignments in the company's contact lens business including marketing, and global strategy and planning before being named to head the investor relations function in 1996. Prior to joining B&L, she was a trial lawyer with the Rochester, N.Y., law firm of Harris, Beach and Wilcox.

Panzarella, a native of Rochester, has a B.S. degree in Political Science from St. John Fisher College of Rochester and a J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, N.Y.

Waltrip also announced the creation of a single department responsible for all internal and external communications including investor relations, headed by Barbara M. Kelley, corporate vice president - Communications and Investor Relations.

"It makes good strategic sense to have all communications activities managed within one group, ensuring that our corporate messages are consistently reinforced across all audiences on a global basis," said Waltrip.

Kelley joined Bausch & Lomb in 1983 in public relations, progressing through positions in public affairs before becoming corporate vice president -Communications in 1997. Prior to Bausch & Lomb, Kelley worked in community and public relations at Rochester Telephone Corporation. A native of Wellsville, New York, she has a B.S. degree in Sociology from the University of Rochester and a MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Bausch & Lomb Incorporated is the preeminent global technology-based healthcare company for the eye, dedicated to helping consumers see, look and feel better through innovative technology and design. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The company is advantaged with some of the most respected brands in the world starting with its name, Bausch & Lomb(R), and including SofLens(TM), PureVision(TM), Boston(R), ReNu(R), Storz(R) and Technolas(TM). Founded in 1853 in Rochester, N.Y., where it continues to have its headquarters, the company has annual revenues of approximately $1.8 billion and employs approximately 12,000 people in more than 50 countries. Bausch & Lomb products are available in more than 100 countries around the world. Additional information about the company can be found on Bausch & Lomb's Worldwide Web site at http://www.bausch.com.