Mr Farnsworth joined Bausch & Lomb in 1988 as vice president of Business development for the former international division.
Mr Farnsworth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Rochester and a Juris doctor degree from Cornell University School of Law.
Gerald Ostrov, chairman and CEO of Bausch & Lomb, said: “As we develop the company for sustained growth, harnessing and sharing knowledge for the benefit of our customers and teams is crucial. We are thrilled that Alan will bring his passion and skills to this new challenge.”