LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health"), today announced that its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling program has recycled nearly 27 million used contact lenses, top foils and blister packs since launching in November 2016. The program, made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, has diverted more than 162,000 pounds of contact lens waste from oceans, lakes, streams and landfills. "At Bausch Health, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our company to identify ways that we can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative state, while reducing our overall environmental footprint," said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety + Sustainability, Bausch Health. "We are proud to offer the ONE by ONE Recycling program to customers and contact lens wearers to help ensure these used materials do not end up in our environment." Today, more than 5,500 optometry practices are registered with the ONE by ONE Recycling program. To participate, contact lens wearers can bring their used contact lenses and packaging to one of these offices, which collects the used lens materials in a custom recycling bin provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once the bin is filled, the optometry practice will ship the materials to TerraCycle for proper recycling using a pre-paid shipping label. "Millions of people wear contact lenses every day to help them see, but many do not realize the significant impact that these materials can have on the environment," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO, TerraCycle. "In just four years, we have recycled hundreds of thousands of these used materials, removing them from our environment, and instead using them to give back to the community. It is a program we're proud to be part of and one we look forward to building upon in collaboration with Bausch + Lomb for years to come." Additionally, for every 10 pounds of material received from the ONE by ONE Recycling Program, TerraCycle donates $10 to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that funds programs that provide eye examinations and low-cost eyeglasses to people in need, including tens of millions of children with uncorrected myopia. In 2019, Bausch + Lomb took the program one step further by repurposing the recycled waste and combining it with other recycled material to create custom training modules that were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation, a national not-for-profit that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The modules, which included benches, tables, waste stations and an agility ramp, are used to train the dogs and to further enhance the organization's Smithtown, New York campus for those who visit. For more information on the Bausch + Lomb ONE by ONE Recycling Program, visit www.bauschrecycles.com. About TerraCycle TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine's list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com. About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program Contact lens waste, including used lenses, foils and blister packs, is collected at eye care practices through special recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb and sent, postage-paid, to TerraCycle, where it is processed into raw material for the manufacture of new recycled products. About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of Bausch Health Companies Inc., is solely focused on helping people see better to live better. Its core businesses include over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in approximately 100 countries. For more information, visit www.bausch.com. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com.

AFTER SPENDING A few years at her “dream job” in a private practice, Dr. Sarah K. Ebeling grew frustrated by the hour-long commute. Exhausted by the challenge of finding a work/life balance with a toddler and new baby, she was carrying around some major “mom guilt.” What’s more, she saw a growing need for family eyecare in her own expanding community of Chanhassen, MN. So she took the plunge and struck out on her own.   Wink Family Eye Care opened its doors in December 2014. So appreciative of her former bosses was Ebeling that she never announced to her patients that she was leaving. It turns out she didn’t need to: “They were my number one supporters and told my patients that I had opened Wink and where they could find me.”   More than five years later, Wink is now thriving, with a four-person team and thousands of patients on its books.   Ebeling describes Chanhassen — located about a 20-minute drive southwest of downtown Minneapolis — as a suburban community with a small town feel. “Most of the town is young families like us, and more are coming. We have a projected population growth of 20,000 in Chanhassen and the immediate surrounding towns in the next 10 years.” Ebeling estimates Wink is around 50 percent pediatric, depending on the month.   The interiors at Wink are fresh, clean, modern and designed to be inviting for all ages with bright colors pleasing to children, but not so “pediatric-focused” that their parents aren’t comfortable, too. The apple-green featured throughout was chosen by Ebeling based on a lesson on “visually pleasing” color wavelengths she was taught in optometry school. “555nm is the easiest color for our eyes to see and there are pops of it everywhere in the office, from the pop-art mural in the optical to the paper towel dispensers in the contact lens room.” A natural wood floor offsets the cool white and aqua accents to create balance.   The total square footage is less than 1,600 sq. ft, so when possible, multi-purpose adaptations were made. When designing the space, Ebeling thought of every step patients would take through the office and tried to design around an ideal flow, with just a small area of hallway that a patient will have to walk through twice in a routine contact lens exam. To other ECPs working with limited space, her advice is to dedicate as much floor and wall space as you can to the optical, “because you will grow… I built out a second exam lane but didn’t equip it until our third year in practice.” Ebeling used to do all of the frame buying, but has handed nearly all rep meetings over to her lead optician, Bridget. “She’s much better at frame selection than I am,” says Ebeling. “We try to buy frames that are representative of the collection,” she says. “Though Etnia has beautiful black and brown frames in traditional silhouettes, we’re going to select more of their colorful or Art Deco shapes.” All collections are posted online with links to the manufacturers’ sites, which Ebeling says helps people who appreciate unique eyewear find Wink. “We also have quite a few patients who look online before they come in and already have an idea what they want… We can style patients in the office but special order their ideal color directly from the manufacturer.” Wink also does a lot of drop-ship from the vendors directly to the labs, which helps with inventory management.   The practice keeps its social media current with frequent posts for fun, education, or to showcase its newest frames. They’ve experimented with various approaches, including hashtag campaigns, using Glam Optometrist’s monthly subscription and hiring younger, tech-savvy optometry students to run their accounts, but Ebeling admits it’s a work in progress.   On the medical side, Ebeling strives for a mix of the personal and the high-tech, using a computerized refractive system, Optos digital imaging, and the iCare tonometer for those patients who despise the “puff” and drops. With over half of her patients under the age of 18, she says, each touch-point in the office is adaptable to each patient’s needs and size, “whether they are a 3 year old or a 6’6” hockey coach. We treat each patient as the friend and neighbor that they are.”   Five Cool Things About Wink Family Eye Care 1. SUNS SWEETENER. Every child who’s dilated gets a pair of Wink-logo sunglasses. 2. EYE-GRABBER. In the center of the optical is a pop art mural featuring Wink’s signature apple green, comprising dots that spell ‘Wink.’ LED spotlights make it visible when people drive by the office at night 3. TEACHABLE MOMENT. Every year Dr. Ebeling visits local schools to teach kids about the importance of eyecare. She takes a bunch of daily disposables with her for the kids to play with. 4. CL DROPS. Wink is a drop-off site for B+L’s contact lens blister pack recycling program through Terra Cycle. 5. GONE GREEN. From online exam booking and CL ordering to texted appointment reminders and recalls, as well as digital faxing and the Weave text-to-pay option, Wink is mostly paperless. Ebeling says this reduces accounts receivable and creates another “wow” opportunity.  

As you grapple with the new normal of the pandemic crisis and prepare to hit the ground running once practices reopen, you might not be thinking about Earth Day 2020, the worldwide environmental movement's 50th anniversary. However, it's always a good time to consider tips to go green and safeguard the planet when your practice reopens.   AOA Focus asked green-conscious doctors of optometry for tips on how to get started if you're looking to reduce, reuse and recycle in your office.  

1. Reduce energy use.

G. Michael Murphy, O.D., has graduated to solar panels on the roof of his practice, but even he had to begin somewhere.   "If you have an older building, insulate and tighten up leaks," Dr. Murphy recommends. "Check with your utility company, which may offer assistance with installing more ef­ficient HVAC equipment and lighting. A local power company in my area offered an instant rebate on LED replacement tubes for my fluorescent lights."   He put each tube's retail cost at $6.99, but with instant rebates and a volume discount, his cost dropped to 99 cents apiece. "Considering that each tube now uses 15 watts instead of 32, the cost of energy in our locale is about .12/kWh and the lights operate roughly 40 hours per week; that's a savings of 8 cents per week per bulb. That means that the upfront cost of those replacement lights was recouped in one year."   2. Recycle contact lens packaging. Start by educating patients on contact lens disposal. Once her patients are enjoying the visual freedom of wearing contact lenses, Pamela Lowe, O.D., says they sometimes ask about the environmental impact of disposing of them.   Dr. Lowe, who is chair of the AOA's Contact Lens and Cornea Section, says, "Using up to 365 pairs of contact lenses per year for the everyday contact lens wearer has raised the question of how to ef­ficiently and environmentally dispose of the packaging and waste these lenses create. Our practice is proactive in educating patients on how single-use lenses actually have a positive impact on keeping America green. We also point out that, if patients have a recycling program in their community, the disposable, single-use packs are recyclable, and if they do not­ have a recycling program, we encourage them to save and return their contact lens packaging to our of­fice and we dispose of it in the Bausch & Lomb TerraCycle program. The company graciously provides, at no charge, containers for practices to collect contact lens foil and plastic packaging, no matter who manufactures the lenses, and will ef­ficiently recycle these materials at no charge to practitioners." At-home recycle containers for patients also are available.   3. Conserve plastic and paper. Start by saying no to plastic water bottles and yes to recycling. "Disposable water bottles are one of the least environmentally friendly, nonessential items you can eliminate. Buy a water dispenser and use paper cups," says Dr. Murphy.   He suggests a giveaway: reusable water bottles or thermal cups with your practice information on them. For at least 20 years, the practice of Douglas Melzer, O.D., has recycled. "Oregon is a very 'green' state and had one of the ­first bottle recycling bills in the nation that provided financial incentive to customers for returning the bottles for deposit." Recycling and garbage bins are conveniently side by side throughout his practice. Cardboard boxes from deliveries are flattened and placed in recycling bins.   "Almost all paper gets recycled-of course anything that contains protected health information is shredded," says Dr. Melzer, noting that the cost of the mobile shredding service is shared with the chiropractic of­fice next door. "Start with the simple stuff (cardboard, mail, magazines and such) and watch how much space you save in the garbage."  

By MELISSA BARNETT, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA May 1, 2020   In our modern society, plastic is everywhere—from water bottles, cars, toys, packaging, clothing, food utensils, and straws to contact lenses, lens solution bottles, and contact lens cases. According to a 2016 study, 32% of plastic packaging is either not collected or is collected and then dumped illegally or mishandled (World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and McKinsey & Company). Most manufactured plastics can be recycled; however, there is confusion about how to recycle, with a myriad of different rules and guidelines. According to National Geographic, 91% of plastic has never been recycled. Additionally, every city and town has its own recycling program. It is important to check a location’s rules to confirm what can be recycled.  

Plastic in Contact Lenses

  Daily disposable lenses boast the highest rate of replacement compliance among the different soft lens replacement schedules (Dumbleton et al, 2009). As daily replacement lenses gain in popularity, both patients and practitioners may have concerns that more waste is generated by using new lenses every day. However, as far as the lenses themselves are concerned, an annual supply of daily disposable lenses (365 pairs) produced 11.36g of dehydrated plastic waste, slightly more than it would take to produce two credit cards. A commonly used 20oz water bottle has the equivalent weight of 1,586 dehydrated contact lenses (a 2.17 year supply) (Routhier et al, 2012).   In addition, the amount of plastic that goes into manufacturing multipurpose solution bottles and lens cases is often overlooked. A single multipurpose solution bottle has an average weight equivalent to 2.5 years of daily replacement contact lenses (Routhier et al, 2012). Of interest, a single multipurpose solution storage case is equivalent to more than a four-year supply of daily disposables, and a peroxide case is equal to more than eight years’ worth.  

Recycling Rules

  Contact lens cases and solution bottles may be recycled in the plastic number 5 container. Number 5 recycling is increasingly becoming more accepted by recyclers and can be recycled by some curbside programs. Materials are recycled into signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, and trays (Howard and Abdelrahman, 2020).   One contact lens company in the United States offers a recycling program for contact lens waste that can’t be recycled curbside. Patients can bring their lenses, blister packs, and foils to a participating eyecare practitioner’s office, where the materials are shipped to TerraCycle, or they can ship them from home. The contact lenses and blister packs are separated and cleaned after they are received. All brands of lenses may be recycled with this program.   Hard plastic number-5-stamped contact lens containers (blister packs) can also be recycled through Preserve’s Gimme 5 Program (www.preserve.eco ). The packs must be cleaned, and the foil tops must be removed and disposed of elsewhere.   The Contact Lens & Cornea Section (CLCS) of the American Optometric Association (AOA) has published guidelines for the safe disposal of used contact lenses and their packaging (AOA, 2018):  

• Remind patients to never flush lenses down the sink or toilet.
• Inform patients about recycling programs that are available, especially for contact lenses.
• Don’t forget that boxes, contact lens cases, and lens solution bottles are usually recyclable through standard recycling bins.

 

A Practice Builder

  I frequently discuss contact lens recycling with my patients. In addition to the benefits of a clean lens each day, they are pleased to learn about these recycling resources, which in turn grows our daily replacement lens business.

Daily disposable contact lenses are single-use lenses that are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a fresh pair of lenses is applied to the eyes the next morning. Daily contact lenses are gaining in popularity among practitioners and consumers for their health and convenience benefits.   Before you consider the pros and cons of daily disposable lenses, here are two things to keep in mind:  

• Don't confuse "daily wear" with "daily disposable." A daily wear lens is one that must be removed before sleeping, because it's not FDA approved for extended (overnight) wear. Such a lens might be replaced daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly, depending upon the brand. In short, wearing schedule and replacement schedule are two different things.
• In the world of contact lenses, "disposable" doesn't always mean single-use. Daily wear lenses that are thrown out every two weeks are sometimes called disposable. "Daily disposable" is the specific term for lenses that are removed and discarded daily.

 

Why Throw Out Lenses At All?

  The more frequently you replace your lenses, the healthier and more comfortable your eyes can be.   Protein, calcium, lipids and other substances found naturally in your tears can build up on your lenses. These deposits make your contacts less comfortable than when they were new, and can also make your eyes more prone to infection.   Of course, lenses can be cleaned, but cleaning is not 100 percent effective. Some deposits will remain and continue to accumulate over time.  

Daily Contact Lenses: Convenience And Health

  There are two ways to avoid just about all contact lens care. One is to wear extended wear lenses continuously for several days, and then discard them when you remove them.   Unfortunately, overnight wear of contact lenses is not a good idea for everyone. And for many people, wearing contact lenses during sleep increases the risk of eye problems.   The other alternative is daily disposable contact lenses. Many eye care professionals and contact lens wearers feel that they offer the best of both worlds: They are convenient because no lens cleaning is required, and they are healthy because there is no day-to-day accumulation of lens deposits, and no overnight wear.  

How Different Are Daily Contact Lenses From Regular Lenses?

  Even before the advent of disposable lenses, it was well known that replacing lenses often was a healthy thing to do. Problem was, contacts were too expensive to discard very often — so various cleaning solutions and devices were used to prolong the life of the lens.   Then contact lens manufacturers developed new manufacturing methods to produce high-quality lenses in greater volume, at lower cost. These advances led to lower lens prices, making it affordable to replace lenses more often.   Some of today's daily contact lenses are made of the same materials as traditional lenses; other disposables are made from new materials and designs developed especially for disposability.  

How Much Do Daily Contact Lenses Cost?

  Daily disposable lenses are often more affordable than many people expect. It's not unusual to spend more on a daily visit to Starbucks than on daily disposable contacts. And while you might enjoy your coffee for half an hour, a fresh pair of lenses will provide comfort and good vision all day long.   Of course, using 730 daily contact lenses per year will generally cost more than, for example, using 24 monthly-replacement lenses per year. But cost can vary widely, depending on the brand and the lens material. Daily disposable contact lenses made from silicone hydrogel materials are often positioned by lens manufacturers as "premium" daily disposables with the greatest benefit and the highest cost.   If you're considering daily contact lenses, remember that higher lens cost is offset by the money you'll save on lens care products, since they won't be needed.  

Can I Wear Daily Contact Lenses?

  Yes, you probably can. Your eye care practitioner can tell you for sure. (Find an eye doctor here if you need one.)   The key is whether daily disposables are made in your particular prescription. In addition to standard single vision designs, some daily disposable brands are available in colors, in designs to correct astigmatism, and in multifocal designs to correct presbyopia.   If your prescription is outside the range in which daily disposable lenses are produced, you may have to stick with traditional disposables or frequent replacement lenses.  

Disadvantages of Daily Contact Lenses

  In addition to cost, some people object to the amount of waste created by disposable products. While contact lenses and blister packs can't be recycled locally, they can be collected and periodically sent to TerraCycle for recycling. This program is sponsored by Bausch + Lomb, but all brands of lenses and blister packs are accepted. The cardboard boxes that lenses come in can simply be recycled as usual.