Contact lenses and cataract surgery products contributed to an 8 per cent growth in world-wide sales for the first quarter of 2003 for eye care company Bausch & Lomb.
The growth, compared to last year's figures, saw sales rise to $448m (£282m). Contact lens revenues increased 11 per cent from the first quarter of 2002, and were up 3 per cent on a constant-currency basis. 'Performance was driven by core lens products,' said a spokesman, 'with strong double-digit gains in Europe and Asia, and high single-digit gains in the Americas.'
Lens care revenue was up 1 per cent, but fell 3 per cent on a constant-currency basis. US revenues, which make up 40 per cent of total sales, were an unchanged $181m (£114m). Revenues from markets outside the US were up 14 per cent over the first quarter of 2002.