Bausch & Lomb Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Ocular Sciences, Inc.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL) today filed a lawsuit against Ocular Sciences, Inc., of Concord, Calif., for infringement of a Bausch & Lomb patent - U.S. Patent No. 6,113,236 - that relates to toric contact lenses used to correct astigmatism.

"We believe that the OSI Biomedics(R) toric soft contact lens and its private label equivalent infringe our patented technology, an important piece of our intellectual property that represents a significant investment in the development of advanced contact lens technology," said Angela J. Panzarella, Bausch & Lomb corporate vice president - Global Vision Care. "This technology is incorporated in the Bausch & Lomb SofLens66(R) Toric lens, the No. 1 dispensed soft toric lens in both the United States and in the world. Over the last 10 months, we repeatedly asked OSI either to provide evidence that it does not infringe our patent or to negotiate a license agreement. Since OSI did not provide us with the requested information, we had no choice but to file the lawsuit today to protect our patent rights."

In the case filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in Rochester, Bausch & Lomb asked the court for injunctive relief to require OSI to discontinue manufacturing and sales in the U.S. of its infringing toric lens until the Bausch & Lomb patent expires in 2018. Bausch & Lomb also asked for unspecified monetary damages for infringing its patented technology.

This news release contains, among other things, certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or the future business performance of Bausch & Lomb. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, those concerning global and local economic, political and sociological conditions; currency exchange rates; government pricing changes and initiatives with respect to healthcare products; changes in laws and regulations relating to the Company's products and the import and export of such products; product development and rationalization; enrollment and completion of clinical trials; the ability of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals; the outcome of litigation; the success of product introductions; the financial well-being of key customers, development partners and suppliers; the successful execution of marketing strategies; the continued successful implementation of the Company's efforts in managing and reducing costs and expenses; the Company's success in the process of management testing and auditor attestation of internal controls, as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; the Company's success in introducing and implementing its enterprise-wide information technology initiatives, including the corresponding impact on controls and reporting; continued positive relations with third party financing sources and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the current report on Form 8-K, dated June 14, 2002, and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 2004.

Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable 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. Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2003 revenues were $2 billion; it employs approximately 11,500 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company can be found on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com. Copyright Bausch & Lomb.