New B+L owners to make deep job cuts

Article

Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals, new owner of Bausch + Lomb (B+L), the company will reduce its workforce by as much as 15% worldwide, move B+L's headquarters, and combine B+L's three business units into one operation.

 

New York-Canada's Valeant Pharmaceuticals is officially the new owner of Bausch + Lomb (B+L) as of Aug. 6. Valeant says that, as part of its $8.7 billion acquisition of B+L, the company will reduce its workforce by as much as 15% worldwide. Those cuts could total between 1,850 and 2,775 people on both the Valeant and B+L sides.

State, federal, and local officials sent a letter to Valeant management last week, expressing disappointment in the company’s plan to relocate B+L.

“The talent and work ethic here made Bausch and Lomb what it is today and gave this business a home for more than a century. The Rochester families behind this company deserve better than losing their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in a statement.

At one time, Rochester was home to a trio of major companies-the others being Eastman Kodak Co. and Xerox Corp.-that ruled the local economy. With B+L’s departure imminently apparent, it will leave a massive hole in the regional job picture.

Valeant also will combine B+L’s three businesses units-pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment, and contact lenses-into a combined B+L Eye Health operation.

Further, although Valeant will remain based in Laval, Quebec, it will move B+L’s headquarters to New Jersey from Rochester, NY. The new owner states it will not close any U.S. manufacturing sites. B+L has plants in Rochester; Tampa, FL; St. Louis; Greenville, SC; and Waterford, Ireland. Valeant will continue to operate all of its current U.S. manufacturing locations, including those in Rochester.

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, FAAO, outlines her AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025 presentation on nutrition and its impact on ocular health.
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, detailed a talk she gave alongside Mary Beth Yackey, OD, at Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Shelby Brogdon, OD, details opportunities for practices to answer the patient's concerns from the chair before they hit the internet for their contact lens needs.
Christi Closson, OD, FAAO, shares her excitement for the new Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day multifocal for astigmatism
Karen R. Hoffman, OD, shares how customizable scleral lenses can transform vision for patients with complex corneas, achieving 20/20 outcomes and enhanced comfort.
Janna Pham, OD, shares key takeaways from a corneal tomography session she presented alongside Travis Pfeifer, OD; and Matthew McGee, OD.
Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, details early symptom relief demonstrated in as early as day 1 during AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025.
When Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FEAOO, began fitting scleral lenses 20 years ago, there was limited knowledge about conjunctival characteristics, scleral shape, and lens behavior.
Ioussifova details what sets Johnson & Johnson's new lens apart from the rest, which was launched at the American Optometric Association's Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Alongside Rachel Steele, OD, Rafieetary outlines what to look for in blurred disc margins and the importance of acting fast and sending patients to the ED when needed.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.