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ReNu® and Fusarium Keratitis

Contact Lens Solution ReNu® with MoistureLoc® Linked to Severe Eye Infections

Bausch & Lomb, an eye health care company, has asked retailers across the nation to remove its contact lens solution ReNu® with MoistureLoc® from store shelves after receiving reports of fungal eye infections, known  as Fusarium keratitis, in consumers using the product. The company recommends that people using ReNu with MoistureLoc try a different contact lens solution while the source of the infections is investigated (1).

Update:

On May 15, 2006, Bausch & Lomb, supported by the Food and Drug Administration, initiated a worldwide recall of all ReNu with MoistureLoc products. The company proposed that unique characteristics of the product can increase the risk of Fusarium infection (2).

UPDATE II:

164 cases of fungal keratitis have been confirmed in 33 states and one U.S. territory. Users of ReNu with MoistureLoc were more than 20 times more likely to get severe eye infections than non-users.

The American Optometric Association released a statement confirming the infections of fungal keratitis were caused by a mix of poor hygiene and the composition of the ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens cleaning solution.

Lawsuits are being filed across the country against the manufacturer. One case filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, New York, alleged that Bausch & Lomb officials were aware as far back as February of 2006 that ReNu with MoistureLoc could cause eye infections; reports of infections in Singapore and Hong Kong resulted  in a suspension of the product being shipped there two months before Bausch & Lomb’s official April announcement (3) of fungal eye infections possibly resulting from use of ReNu with MoistureLoc.

Of the Fusarium keratitis cases officially investigated, more than 86% of  them occurred in patients using one of Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu products (3). The investigation resulted after a New Jersey  ophthalmologist contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to inform them he had recently treated three patients suffering from Fusarium keratitis, a previously rare disease. Further investigation revealed that doctors across the country have also seen a rise of Fusarium keratitis cases (3).

To date, there have been 176 cases of Fusarium keratitis believed to be associated with the contact lens solution. These cases have been found in 28 states, and at least eight patients have required corneal transplants resulting from the infection (4).

What is Fusarium Keratitis?

Fusarium  keratitis, also known as fungal keratitis, is a serious and painful disease affecting the cornea of the eye and results in:

• blurred vision
• excessive tearing or discharge
• increased sensitivity to light
• pain in and around the eye
• permanent blindness if the condition is left untreated
• redness and tenderness that does not improve when the lens is removed
• swelling

The cornea is the clear layering protecting the eye from dust, germs, and debris. It also acts as the outermost lens of the eye and focuses the entry of light into the retina. The cornea is responsible for 65-75% of the eye’s focusing power. Fungal keratitis may appear as a feathery grayish-white lesion and is often difficult to distinguish from other eye infections. If you experience any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Talk to a Lawyer Today

Fungal keratitis is a serious condition that can result in blindness if left untreated. If you have used ReNu with MoistureLoc contact solution and suffered fungal keratitis, contact a lawyer at our firm today for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Bausch & Lomb, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The New York Times, the American Optometric Association, or USA Today.

Sources:

1) "Bausch & Lomb Asks Retailers to Remove U.S.-Manufactured ReNu® with MoistureLoc® from Shelves; and Recommends Consumers Switch to Another Solution Pending Investigation of Reports of Fusarium Infections among Contact Lens Wearers," April 13, 2006. Accessed on April 21, 2006, via www.bauschandlomb.com.

2) "Bausch & Lomb Global Recall of ReNu with MoistureLoc Contact Lens Cleaning Solution," May 15, 2006. Accessed on May 30, 2006, via www.FDA.gov.

3) “Retailers Asked to Remove a Lens Cleaner,” by Gardiner Harris. Accessed on April 21, 2006, via www.nytimes.com.

4) “Eye Fungus Count Climbs to 176,” April 22, 2006. Accessed on April 24, 2006 via www.usatoday.com.

ReNu® and MoistureLoc® are registered trademarks of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated and are used here only to identify the products in question.

This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.