B&L sales up

Second quarter 2007 sales for Bausch & Lomb grew by 14 per cent to $649.5m compared with $571.5m in the same period in 2006.

Growth for the first six months was 10 per cent on net sales of $1,228.4m compared to $1,117.5m when sales were hit by $19.1m in costs associated with the MoistureLoc recall.

The company reported net earnings of $15m in the second quarter, compared to a net loss of $15.1m for the period in 2006. Contact lens sales in Europe grew by 13 per cent, which B&L said was primarily due to higher sales of PureVision silicone hydrogels. Lens care sales in Europe grew 11 per cent in the second quarter.