-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DKYQRuGYP048hVHUSAAyjxvVa5YWFVQbMlXRYQZ9GlVeGlGekJADuuLp7GnVVQ9f
 KAsNxj3k9GdRI8IcMHAT5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000010427-05-000231.txt : 20050607
<SEC-HEADER>0000010427-05-000231.hdr.sgml : 20050607
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050607101204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000010427-05-000231
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050607
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050607

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOUGHLIN JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188725

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04105
		FILM NUMBER:		05881938

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BAUSCH & LOMB INC
		STREET 2:		ONE BAUSCH & LOMB PLACE
		CITY:			ROCHESTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5853385888
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010427</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BAUSCH &amp; LOMB INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188725</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOUGHLIN JOHN M</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>Senior VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>95</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>95</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3866</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Deferred Comp Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposition of phantom stock units as a result of a payout from the reporting person's deferred compensation account pursuant to the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.  The reported phantom stock units were acquired through deferral of class B restricted stock into the company's Deferred Compensation Plan and are being settled upon the reporting person's election.  Shares are paid in cash on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jean F. Geisel, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----