About Bausch & Lomb
The Bausch & Lomb Story
One of the oldest continually operating companies in the US today, Bausch
& Lomb traces its roots to 1853, when John Jacob Bausch, a German
immigrant, set up a tiny optical goods shop in Rochester, New York. When he
needed more money to keep the business going, Bausch borrowed $60 from his good
friend, Henry Lomb. Bausch promised that if the business grew, Lomb would be
made a full partner. The business did grow and the partnership was
formed.
In the early years, Bausch & Lomb manufactured revolutionary rubber
eyeglass frames as well as a variety of optical products that required a high
degree of manufacturing precision. By 1903, the firm had been issued patents
for microscopes, binoculars, and even a camera shutter based on the eye’s
reaction to light.
A History of Innovation
In the 1900’s, Bausch & Lomb continued to demonstrate its place at the
forefront of technological innovation for optical products. Bausch & Lomb
produced the first optical quality glass made in America, developed
ground-breaking sunglasses for the military in World War I, and created the
lenses used on the cameras that took the first satellite pictures of the moon.
In 1971, Bausch & Lomb introduced the first soft contact lenses and is
still the largest global provider of eye care products.
Although products and times have changed, Bausch & Lomb still adheres to
the legacy of dedication to innovation, quality, and craftsmanship established
by John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb.