Bausch & Lomb Wins at European Patent Office Hearing.

Business Editors

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2003

Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL)

-- EPO Revokes Novartis Patent for Extended Wear Lenses

-- Bausch & Lomb Will Immediately Seek Reintroduction of Its

PureVision(TM) Lens in Germany

Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL) announced that today the European Patent Office in Munich fully revoked a patent held by Novartis AG, the parent of CIBA Vision, that purported to cover extended wear contact lenses. The EPO agreed with Bausch & Lomb's challenge that the Novartis patent lacked novelty and, in fact, was anticipated by an earlier patent held by Bausch & Lomb.

"This is a clear and decisive victory both for Bausch & Lomb and for the eyecare practitioners and their patients who enjoy the benefits of our unique PureVision lens technology," said Angela J. Panzarella, Bausch & Lomb vice president - Global Vision Care. "The EPO decision confirms Bausch & Lomb's longstanding position that our PureVision technology, the result of more than 10 years of original research and an investment of tens of millions of dollars, pre-empted the Novartis effort to monopolize the silicone hydrogel continuous-wear market through its now-revoked patent."

In lawsuits filed in Germany and Ireland, Novartis had claimed that Bausch & Lomb's PureVision contact lens technology infringed this patent. As a result of today's EPO ruling, Bausch & Lomb will immediately seek to once again sell its PureVision contact lenses in Germany. Sales in Germany of the PureVision lens, introduced in 1999, were halted in April 2003, after the Dusseldorf Lower Court ruled in favor of Novartis in an infringement hearing on the patent. The German court does not rule on patent validity. Bausch & Lomb now will seek a stay of the German injunction and will ask the Irish court to stay Novartis' patent proceeding against Bausch & Lomb in Ireland. Bausch & Lomb anticipates that these requests will be granted in view of the EPO's decision to revoke the patent. Novartis has the right to appeal this EPO decision.

Bausch & Lomb originally filed an opposition with the EPO to the Novartis patent entitled "Extended Wear Ophthalmic Lens," after it was issued in September 2001.

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 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 import and export of products, product development and rationalization, enrollment and completion of clinical trials, regulatory approvals, the outcome of litigation, product introductions, the financial well-being of key customers, development partners and suppliers, 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 current report on Form 8-K, dated June 14, 2002 and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 28, 2003.

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 in 2003, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2002 revenues were $1.8 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.