Bausch and Lomb appoints chief medical officer

Bausch and Lomb has selected leading eye health authority Dr Calvin Roberts to become its chief medical officer.

Dr Roberts steps into the newly created role in order to coordinate the firm's global vision care, pharmaceutical and surgical research efforts and assist the executive leadership team.

According to the company, he has been described as the "father" of ophthalmic non-steroidal treatments and has extensive experience in creating innovative over-the-counter vision care products and prescription ocular therapeutics.

Acting as a consultant, he has previously helped a number of ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies to develop and market new products, including Allergan, Novartis and Johnson and Johnson.

Brent Saunders, chief executive officer of Bausch and Lomb, said of Dr Roberts: "Cal is uniquely qualified to help us further strengthen product innovation, benefiting our customers and their patients around the world."

In January 2011, the company agreed a deal with UK-based UltraVision CLPL to take control of the KeraSoft contact lens brand, which will now be marketed and sold worldwide.