Bausch & Lomb Proceeds to Court of Appeals to Seek Stay of Injunction Prohibiting U.S. Sales of PureVision Contact Lenses.

Business Editors

Bausch & Lomb (NYSE/BOL)

- Federal District Court Denies Request for Stay

- Company Expects Court of Appeals to Act on Motion Within Two Weeks

Bausch & Lomb (NYSE/BOL) said today it is proceeding to file a motion with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, seeking a stay of the injunction imposed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware which prohibits the company from making or selling its PureVision(TM) contact lenses in the United States. The District Court had ruled earlier this week in favor of CIBA Vision, the eye care unit of Novartis AG, which alleged that Bausch & Lomb infringed a patent that covers various silicone hydrogel materials for contact lenses. The District Court judge today declined to grant Bausch & Lomb's request for a stay of the injunction associated with his decision.

"The judge's swift decision clears the way for us to file an immediate request for a stay with the Court of Appeals," said Robert B. Stiles, senior vice president and general counsel of Bausch & Lomb. "We will ask the Appeals Court to grant our request for a stay of the injunction so that our innovative and popular PureVision continuous wear lenses can remain available to U.S. consumers and eye care practitioners while our appeal is being considered."

Bausch & Lomb said it is hopeful that the Appeals Court will act on its request for a stay within the next two weeks.

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 those concerning economic conditions, currency exchange rates, product development, enrollment and completion of clinical trials, regulatory approvals, product introductions, the financial well-being of key customers, the successful execution of marketing strategies, the continued successful implementation of its efforts in managing and reducing costs and expenses, continued positive relations with third party financing sources, as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Form 10Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2002.

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 $1.7 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. More information about the Company can be found on Bausch & Lomb's Worldwide Web site at www.bausch.com. Copyright Bausch & Lomb.