Bausch + Lomb and CROMA Donate Urgently-Needed Eye Drops

-- Product Will Benefit 50,000 People in Africa via LIGHT FOR THE WORLD

VIENNA , Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 39 million people worldwide are blind; the top cause for blindness is due to cataract (51%, making cataract the leading cause of blindness globally. Cataract is the clouding of the human eye's crystalline lens. This is despite cataract surgery being one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide. For many, poverty makes accessing even basic eye care impossible. The Austrian organization LIGHT FOR THE WORLD, part of an European confederation of national development NGOs, supports people who have no access to ophthalmic care. Through cataract surgeries performed in 148 different projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD saved the sight of 42,500 people in 2012.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/NY45518 )

Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, and CROMA, a private global specialty pharmaceutical and surgical company, have donated 50,000 Yellox™(bromfenac sodium sesquihydrate), a highly effective, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for postoperative ocular inflammation following cataract extraction, to LIGHT FOR THE WORLD's projects in Africa. These eye drops are vital for post-operative treatment of cataract patients.

"This generous donation is remarkable and will have a huge impact on our projects!" states Dr. Karl Rigal, Chief Resident Ophthalmologist at the Vienna Hanusch-Hospital and voluntary board member of LIGHT FOR THE WORLD. "The eye drops work well. As Yellox eye drops only have to be used twice a day, this makes the after-treatment in countries where medical care hardly exists, much easier. This is of real benefit to patients in developing countries who often are not used to taking medicine at all."

Cataract surgery takes 15 minutes and in a developing country costs on average around €30,00. The surgery can restore sight even when someone has been blind from cataract for many years. However, without proper care after the cataract surgery, complications can develop leading to diminished vision or even loss of sight.

"It is our social responsibility and commitment to support the improvement of vision in economically challenged regions of the world, said Mag. Gerhard Prinz, CEO of CROMA Pharma GmbH. "CROMA has been contributing to LIGHT FOR THE WORLD for many years and we are proud to make a difference in improving health and quality of life."

"We are delighted to be able to support LIGHT THE WORLD in their effort to improve the sight of people in Africa," said Calvin Roberts, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, Bausch + Lomb. "Proper post-operative care is the key to maximizing the surgery's results – ultimately achieving the best possible outcome for the patient."   

Background: LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD is a European confederation of national development NGOs committed to saving eyesight, improving the quality of life and advocating for the rights of person with disabilities in the underprivileged regions of our world. LIGHT FOR THE WORLD is dedicated to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in developing countries, without discrimination on gender, ethnicity, social group or religion. More information is available at http://www.light-for-the-world.org

About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.

About CROMA
CROMA Pharma, GmbH, is a private global specialty pharmaceutical and surgical company dedicated to improving people's health through the development and commercialization of innovative products in the ophthalmology, osteoarthritis and aesthetic dermatology fields. Founded in 1976, the company is headquartered in Leobendorf, Austria (near Vienna) and employs approximately 400 individuals at its headquarters and subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, France, Poland, Romania Spain and the USA. Today as a global player CROMA distributes its products in 62 countries via its own commercial sales organization(s), strategic partnerships and distributors. More information is available at www.croma.at