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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000010427-04-000023.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000010427-04-000023.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106143854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000010427-04-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STILES ROBERT B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188741

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04105
		FILM NUMBER:		04509565

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BAUSCH & LOMB INC
		STREET 2:		ONE BAUSCH & LOMB PLACE
		CITY:			ROCHESTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5853385888

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAUSCH & LOMB INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010427
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPHTHALMIC GOODS [3851]
		IRS NUMBER:				160345235
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED
		STREET 2:		ONE BAUSCH & LOMB PLACE
		CITY:			ROCHESTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14604-2701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5853386000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BAUSCH & LOMB PLACE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 54
		CITY:			ROCHESTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14604-2701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001188741d20040106f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000010427</issuerCik><issuerName>BAUSCH &amp; LOMB INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001188741</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>STILES ROBERT B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BAUSCH &amp; LOMB PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ROCHESTER</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>14604-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></repo
rtingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6129</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By daughter</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>447</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransactio
n></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25776</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</t
ransactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>35</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>306</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Deferred Compensation Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeT
ransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 - for - 1 conversion.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Quarterly acquisition of dividend reinvestment phantom stock units pursuant to the BOL Deferred Stock Plans.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The reported phantom stock units were acquired under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan and will be settled upon the reporting person's payout election.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jean F. Geisel, as Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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