Bausch + Lomb Stock Sinks after ‘Voluntary’ Recall of Some Implantable Eye Lenses

Key Takeaways

• Bausch + Lomb shares tumbled in intraday trading Friday, a day after the eye-care company announced a "voluntary recall" of some of its intraocular lenses due to safety concerns.
• On Thursday, Bausch + Lomb said it was recalling its enVista Aspire and enVista Envy lenses and also some enVista monofocal lenses in the U.S. after the company received an increased number of reports of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) caused by the lenses.
• Shares of Bausch + Lomb are off nearly 5% in Friday afternoon trading and have lost about 17% of their value in the past year. 

Bausch + Lomb shares (BLCO) fell in intraday trading on Friday, a week after the eye care company announced a voluntary recall of some intraocular lenses because of safety concerns.

Bausch + Lomb announced that it would recall its enVista Aspire & enVista ENvy lenses, as well as some enVista monofocals in the U.S. on Thursday after receiving a growing number of reports about toxic anterior segment syndrome. The company announced the recall “out of an abundance of caution” and noted that it couldn’t immediately explain the causes for the complications.

Intraocular lens implants, or IOLs for short, are artificial lenses placed in the eye to replace the natural lenses during cataract surgery. The lenses are intended to improve vision.

TASS, an inflammatory reaction inside the eye, is “a potential complication in any cataract surgery” and typically appears between 12 and 48 hours after eye surgery, Bausch + Lomb said.

Bausch + Lomb’s shares fell almost 5% intraday Friday, and have lost around 17% in value over the last year.