About a million bottles of solution from nine of the 12 lots were originally distributed in the United States. Product from the 12 affected lots was also distributed in Canada, Latin America, Korea and Taiwan, where it is also being recalled.
The company initiated an investigation after receiving three customer reports of discolored solution. The root cause of the discoloration was determined to be an elevated level of trace iron in a single batch of raw material sourced from an outside supplier. Iron is an element present at trace levels - measured in parts per billion - in many compounds used in manufacturing food, drug, medical device and cosmetic products for human use. The elevated level of trace iron could combine with other compounds in the solution to cause discoloration which signals that the solution may be losing effectiveness over time.
"The health and safety of consumers is our top priority," said Angela J. Panzarella, vice president and head of Bausch & Lomb's global vision care business. "With detailed and specific information about the distribution of the affected product, and good information about consumer use patterns, we are highly confident that virtually all of the affected product was used before it began to lose effectiveness. We're now in the process of confirming with distributors and retailers that there is no product still available for sale anywhere."
"We are confident we have identified the source of the problem and we are taking appropriate measures designed to avoid a recurrence," Panzarella said.
Bausch & Lomb does not expect the costs associated with this limited recall will have a significant impact on its financial results.
If consumers notice that their lens care solution appears to be discolored, they should discard it, as it may be losing effectiveness. The recalled lots all carry the expiration date "2008 - 03" on the bottle. Consumers who have bottles from the lot numbers listed below should check the Company's web site at www.bausch.com/productrecall or call the consumer affairs line (1-866-259-8255) to arrange for a replacement.
LOT NUMBERS SUBJECT TO RECALL: GC6030 - GC6037 - GC6038 - GC6045 - GC6048 - GC6052 - GC6061 - GC6063 - GC6072 - GC6073 - GC6080 - GC6085
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. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and employs approximately 13,000 people worldwide. 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 Incorporated.
TM and ® denote trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
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 the ability of the Company and the parties with which it contracts to develop and introduce products successfully as well as the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to filings on Form 8-K and on Form 12b-25, each dated November 9, 2006, Form 10-K, dated February 7, 2007 and Form 12b-25 dated March 1, 2007.
Contact: Bausch & Lomb News Media: Barbara M. Kelley, 585-338-5386 bkelley@bausch.com or Investor Relations: Daniel L. Ritz, 585-338-5802 dritz@bausch.com
Source: Bausch & Lomb
