Fungal Keratitis (Fusarium Keratitis) from Contact Lens Solutions

Bausch & Lomb Drops Contact Lens Solution

WASHINGTON, DC — August 18, 2006 — Bausch & Lomb has recalled its disposable contact lens solution, ReNu with MoistureLoc. The product may cause fungal eye infections that damage the cornea, leading to vision loss, the need for a corneal transplant or even blindness.

You should not use any older bottles of ReNu with MoistureLoc that you may still have in your medicine chest, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you used ReNu and developed unusual eye redness, eye pain, tearing, discharge, or sensitivity to light. These may be symptoms of Fusarium keratitis, a severe infection of the cornea.

Reports of Fungal Eye Infections in Contact Lens Wearers

The US government received reports of 125 cases of the fungal eye infection Fusarium keratitis among contact lens wearers from June 2005 through mid–May 2006 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, Centers for Disease Control, May 19, 2006). Out of 118 patients in this group who could identify their contact lens solution, 76% used ReNu with MoistureLoc. Among contact lens users in general, only about 10% use this product. Earlier reports from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Italy also indicated a link between ReNu use and the fungal eye infection.

The FDA inspected the Bausch & Lomb plant in Greenville, North Carolina, where ReNu with MoistureLoc is made, and found several manufacturing violations. One inspector noticed peeling paint and paint chips on agitators on top of the tanks used for preparation of contact lens solutions. However, the report is not final, and questions remain about whether the fungal eye infection problem is due to the actual formula for ReNu with MoistureLoc or to contamination of the product.

Bausch & Lomb Contact Lens Solution and Your Legal Rights

Brayton Purcell is currently evaluating data about Bausch & Lomb and the link between fungal eye infections and ReNu with MoistureLoc. Please contact us if you have been injured by ReNu and would like to know if you have a potential case. We will review your case free of charge, answer your questions, and advise you of your legal rights.

Meanwhile, there are precautions you can take as a contact lens wearer that can help reduce the risk of eye infections. The FDA has these suggestions:

• Consult with your eye doctor to choose an alternative to ReNu with MoistureLoc.
• Perform a “rub and rinse” lens cleaning method, rather than a no rub method. This means rubbing the lens in the palm of your hand with a few drops of solution as well as rinsing the lens.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them before handling your lenses.
• Wear and replace your lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor.
• Follow instructions from your doctor and your solution manufacturer for cleaning and storing your contact lenses.
• Keep your contact lens case clean; replace it every three to six months.

For further details about contact lens care, see the FDA’s Advice for Patients with Soft Contact Lens. The FDA web site also includes the report of the agency’s inspection of the Bausch & Lomb plant (Bausch & Lomb FDA 483, May 15, 2006). You will need to obtain a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file. If you do not already have this software, you may download a free copy at the Adobe Acrobat web site.