Bausch + Lomb Launches SightMatters.com To Help People Living With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Take Control Of Their Condition

New Website offers Comprehensive, Educational Resources to Navigate Life with AMD

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Feb. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company and wholly owned subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TXS: BHC), announced today the availability of SightMatters.com, a new educational online resource for people living with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Bausch + Lomb launched the site to coincide with the start of AMD Awareness Month.

SightMatters.com, which was specifically designed for the visually impaired with an increased font size and distinctive color contrast between different elements, offers a singular resource to help patients with AMD better understand the condition and its progression. The website features personalized tips and tools that will help patients with AMD learn how to create an action plan to take charge of their condition and offers them the opportunity to join a supportive online community of others living with AMD.

"It is estimated that as many as 16 million people in the United States have AMD. SightMatters.com will provide these patients with the information they need to manage their AMD. With its 'AMD Action Plan' questionnaire, patients can receive a personalized plan to understand the changes needed in their daily lives and how to check for signs and symptoms of AMD, so they can help reduce their risk of progression," said Joe Gordon, U.S. president, Bausch + Lomb. "SightMatters.com is part of our ongoing commitment to help protect and enhance sight for the millions of patients who need to navigate life with AMD - no matter where they are on their journey."

Bausch + Lomb to Donate to Prevent Blindness
In addition to launching SightMatters.com, Bausch + Lomb will also continue its four-year collaboration with Prevent Blindness^®, the nation's oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, to raise awareness about this devastating eye disease throughout the month of February. Bausch + Lomb encourages the public to join them in supporting those living with AMD on social media by "sharing" or "liking" every Bausch + Lomb SightMatters Facebook post that promotes AMD Awareness Month from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2019. In doing so, Bausch + Lomb will make a $1 donation* to Prevent Blindness. Bausch + Lomb will also sponsor Prevent Blindness vision screenings at events across the country.

"We value our longstanding collaboration with Bausch + Lomb, to help bring awareness to this pervasive condition and the importance of checking now versus later to catch AMD early," said Jeff Todd, president and CEO, Prevent Blindness. "By working with Bausch + Lomb for the fourth consecutive year, we can continue to encourage people to prioritize their eye health."

Early-stage AMD often does not present any symptoms or changes in vision, but at-risk patients can take action early by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Although there is no cure for AMD, there are steps that patients can take as part of a plan created with their doctor to help reduce their risk of progression. These steps include stopping smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet.

In addition, patients can talk to their doctor about taking an eye vitamin that contains the AREDS formulation based on the AREDS2 study, such as PreserVision® AREDS 2 formula eye vitamins, which contain the exact nutrient formula recommended by the National Eye Institute for people with moderate to advanced AMD. Patients should talk to their eye doctor to see if an AREDS formulation vitamin may be right for them.

For more information on AMD and to join the SightMatters Community, visit www.SightMatters.com or www.facebook.com/SightMattersCommunity.  

About AMD
AMD is a progressive eye condition that impacts central vision and is the leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 50 and older. Symptoms associated with AMD may impair an individual's ability to conduct daily tasks, such as driving, reading and recognizing the faces of loved ones.

About Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us at facebook.com/preventblindness.

About Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb, a Bausch Health Companies Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that 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 more than 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.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch Health's most recent annual or quarterly report and detailed from time to time in Valeant's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.                                 

*Bausch + Lomb will donate $1 to the organization Prevent Blindness for every Facebook like or share, up to $50,000 from 2/1/2019 through 2/28/2019. 

PreserVision is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. 
AREDS2 is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Prevent Blindness is a trademark of the National Society to Prevent Blindness used by permission.
© 2019 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
PV2.0027.USA.19

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.

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