Exhibit 24
                              
                        BAUSCH & LOMB


                      POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned directors of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
(the "Company"), each hereby constitutes and appoints William
M. Carpenter and Robert B. Stiles, or either of them, his or
her respective true and lawful attorneys and agents, each
with full power and authority to act as such without the
other, to sign for and on behalf of the undersigned the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 26, 1998, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 and the related rules and regulations thereunder, and
any amendment or amendments thereto, the undersigned hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents,
or either one of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument has been executed by
the undersigned as of this 23rd day of February 1999.



/s/ Franklin E. Agnew           /s/ John R. Purcell
                                
                                
                                
/s/ William M. Carpenter        /s/ Linda Johnson Rice
                                
                                
                                
/s/ Domenico De Sole            /s/ Alvin W. Trivelpiece
                                
                                
                                
/s/ Jonathan S. Linen           /s/ William H. Waltrip
                                
                                
                                
/s/ Ruth R. McMullin            /s/ Kenneth L. Wolfe