Revenues, sales increase for Bausch & Lomb

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bausch & Lomb reported sales of $566.5 million during the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 11% from sales in the second quarter of 2003. Each of the company’s product categories reported solid sales growth, according to a press release from B&L.

Second quarter U.S. revenues were $225.6 million, an increase of 10% from the same period 1 year ago. The United States comprises 40% of B&L’s overall earnings, the company said in its press release. The Americas region reported a 9% increase in sales; Europe, Middle East and Africa reported a 9% increase, and Asia reported an 18% increase.

By product category, refractive surgical products posted the largest gain from the previous year (17%), followed by contact lenses (12%), pharmaceuticals (11%), cataract and vitreoretinal (9%) and lens care (7%), the company said.

Overall, however, contact lenses are the largest-selling of B&L’s product lines, generating $167.1 million in sales during the quarter. Sales of pharmaceuticals totaled $139.4 million, followed by lens care at $134.9 million, cataract and vitreoretinal at $89.5 million and refractive products at $35.6 million.

The revenue growth in refractive surgical products was primarily driven by higher sales of per-procedure cards, microkeratome blades and upgrades to the Zyoptix platform for customized LASIK surgery, the company said.