Bausch + Lomb expands OTC product line with acquisition of Blink Eye Drops

Bausch + Lomb Corp. announced an affiliate has purchased the Blink product line of eye and contact lens drops from Johnson & Johnson Vision.

According to the company, the acquisition is the latest example of the company’s commitment to increasing over-the-counter (OTC) consumer convenience in eye care.

Under the terms of the deal, Bausch + Lomb agreed to acquire the Blink product line for $106.5 million with cash on hand, according to a company news release.

“There’s a growing need for relieving the symptoms of dry eyes and dry contact lenses, and OTC products are often the first option consumers choose,” John Ferris, executive vice president, Consumer, Bausch + Lomb, said in a news release. “The addition of Blink expands our robust portfolio of OTC eye care brands, enabling us to provide more choices for consumers and eye care professionals.”

According to a 2022 Gallup Study, 57% of American adults report suffering from eye dryness, and of them, nearly half (48%) use OTC lubricant drops to obtain relief. The incidence is increasing, with a strong correlation between the amount of time spent on digital devices and reported dry eyes.¹ In addition, contact lens discomfort and contact lens dryness impacts a third of the 45 million contact lens wearers in the United States.^2,3,4

The Blink portfolio of eye drops consists of a variety of eye drops and contact lens rewetting drops that provide immediate and long-lasting symptom relief. The products that are part of the acquisition include the following:

• Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops;
• Blink Tears Preservative Free Lubricating Eye Drops;
• Blink GelTears Lubricating Eye Drops;
• Blink Triple Care Lubricating Eye Drops;
• Blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops; and
• Blink-N-Clean Lens Drops.

References:

1. MultiSponsor Surveys, Inc. The 2022 Study of Dry Eye Sufferers. August 2022.

2. MultiSponsor Surveys, Inc. The 2021 Study of the U.S. Consumer Contact Lens Market. December 2021.

3. American Optometric Association. www.aoa.org.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov.