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Just days after announcing its plans to acquire a prescription treatment for dry eye disease from Novartis for $2.5 billion, Bausch + Lomb Corp. said July 6 that its affiliate purchased an over-the-counter eye care product line from Johnson & Johnson Vision. 

Under the terms of the deal, Bausch + Lomb, which is headquartered in Ontario with corporate headquarters in Bridgewater, acquired the Blink line of eye and contact lens drops for $106.5 million. 

“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 statement. “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.” 

With its planned purchase of XIIDRA from Novartis, announced June 30, Bausch + Lomb cited consumers’ increased use of digital screens as a cause for the growing prevalence of dry eye conditions. 

The company reiterated that in its Blink purchase, citing a 2022 Gallup study that found 57% of American adults report suffering from eye dryness, and 48% of those use OTC lubricant drops. Bausch + Lomb also said contact lens discomfort and dryness affects a third of the 45 million contact lens wearers in the U.S. 

Johnson & Johnson Vision, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is part of New Brunswick’s Johnson & Johnson MedTech.