Bausch + Lomb’s Soothe Antibiotic Drops now available in Canada

A new over-the-counter treatment for external bacterial infections of the eye and ear has entered the Canadian market.¹ Bausch + Lomb’s Soothe Antibiotic Drops are formulated to target bacteria that cause infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis, otitis externa, and swimmer’s ear, according to a news release.

“There is growing demand for effective options that address bacterial infections in both the eye and ear,” said John Ferris, president of Consumer, Bausch + Lomb, in the release. “Soothe Antibiotic Drops provide Canadians a convenient, 2-in-1 option that addresses these common patient needs without requiring a prescription.”

Each milligram of the drop contains polymyxin B 10,000 units (as sulfate) and gramicidin 0.025 mg, making it suitable for children 6 years and older.²

Soothe Antibiotic Drops have been made available in a 10-mL bottle² at most Canadian national retailers at an average manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $20.¹

The drops join a variety of other treatments in the Bausch + Lomb Soothe family, including Allergy, Dry Eyes, Night Time, Dry Eye Therapy, Allergy and Dry Eye, and Eye Wash drops.²

In other news

Bausch + Lomb has had a big month so far in eye drop news, with results recently being published from a study evaluating end-of-day comfort and dryness in symptomatic soft contact lens wearers' improvement after using lifitegrast ophthalmic solution (Xiidra; Bausch + Lomb) 5%. The results reinforce previous clinical studies that have demonstrated that lifitegrast significantly reduces symptoms of eye dryness over 12 weeks. The investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label study evaluated lifitegrast when used twice daily for 12 weeks while wearers used their usual contact lenses, according to a news release.³

Lifitegrast ophthalmic solution is a prescription eye drop used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) and works by targeting the source of inflammation.³

The study met its primary end points, with a median VAS score improving by 61 and 59 points on the 100-point scale for end-of-day dryness and discomfort, respectively, after 12 weeks of lifitegrast use. Additionally, the drops resulted in a significant reduction in contact lens wear-related end-of-day dryness and discomfort after 2 and 6 weeks compared with baseline. Dryness symptoms also improved in almost half (45%) of the study participants to the point where they would not have met the symptom-related eligibility criteria for the study after 2 weeks of treatment.³

References

1. Bausch + Lomb launches Soothe Antibiotic Drops in Canada. News release. Bausch + Lomb. September 16, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.bausch.ca/en-ca/bausch-lomb-launches-soothe-antibiotic-drops-in-canada/

2. Soothe Antibiotic Drops. Bausch + Lomb. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.sootheeyedrops.ca/en-ca/products/soothe-antibiotic-drops/

3. Joy J. New study demonstrates Xiidra’s efficacy in alleviating discomfort in symptomatic contact lens wearers. Optometry Times. September 9, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.optometrytimes.com/view/new-study-demonstrates-xiidra-s-efficacy-in-alleviating-discomfort-in-symptomatic-contact-lens-wearers