The FDA and the CDC have issued an alert to health care professionals and patients about Renu lens solution that can cause a rare eye infection caused by a fungus, Fusarium Keratities. The infection is rare, but serious - and can cause permanent loss of vision.
The FDA reports that several patients have experienced significant loss of vision. Many have needed corneal transplants.
The FDA advises any soft contact lens wearer who has existing stocks of Renu Moisture Loc to use the product with caution and report any symptoms of eye infection immediately.
The FDA and CDC urgently advise contact lens users to make sure their soft lenses and products used to maintain them are not contaminated.
The following measures should be taken:
– Wash your hands with soap and water (lint-free method) before touching the lenses
– Replace your lenses according to the timetable given to you by your doctor
– Carefully follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and manufacturer regarding cleaning and storage of the lenses
– Replace your contact lense case every 3-6 months
– Make sure you keep your contact lense case clean
– If you experience redness, pain, tearing, increasing light sensitivity, blurry vision, discharge or swelling - remove the lenses immediately and see your doctor.
The FDA and CDC also advise wearers to perform a ‘rub and rinse' lens cleaning method, instead of the ‘no rub method'. This will minimize the number of germs and reduce the likelihood of infection. link [www.medicalnewstoday.com]
Filed under Contact Lens, Eye Treatment | Tags: eye | 1 Comment
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Basuch & Lomb (Fusarium Keratitis Fiasco) Was Cited in 2002 for Quality Control ProblemsApril 19th, 2006 Basuch & Lomb, at the center of a probe into several cases of eye fungal infection due to fusarium keratitis, was cited by the federal Food and Drug Administration for quality-control problems in 2002. During inspections in May and June 2002 at Bausch & Lomb’s Greenville, S.C., plant, the FDA discovered paint chips in rooms where containers of eye care products were filled.
Fusarium Keratitis, Corneal Infection, Spreading in USA & WorldwideJune 13th, 2006 Dangerous fungal eye infection 'Fusarium Keratitis', that sparked the May 15 market recall of Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution may be more widespread than previously thought, researchers report. This infection, called Fusarium keratitis, involves a swelling and inflammation of the cornea that can be harmful to the structure of the eye and the patient's vision.
Update: Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution Causing Acanthamoeba KeratitisJuly 24th, 2007 Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution, manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics, is used for cleaning and storage purposes for soft contact lenses. The solution recently has been found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cause a seven-fold increase in a rare eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, affecting those who use it.
Fusarium Keratitis, Fungal Eye Infection - Outbreak in San FranciscoJune 21st, 2006 A cluster of 4 cases of soft contact lens–associated Fusarium keratitis seen at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), during a 5-week span in early 2006 and compare this cluster with the number of previous cases of culture-positive Fusarium keratitis seen at UCSF during the prior 30 years. This cluster represents part of a larger outbreak of Fusarium keratitis currently under investigation by public health authorities in Singapore1 and the United States.2 As in these outbreaks under investigation, soft contact lens wear and use of ReNu with MoistureLoc or ReNu MultiPlus (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) contact lens solution was a common feature of these cases.
Fusarium Keratitis (Contact Lens Fungal Infection) Linked To ReNu Contact Lens Solution From Bausch & LombApril 12th, 2006 Bausch & Lomb voluntarily suspended shipment of a contact lens solution after federal health officials linked it to a fungal eye infection that can cause temporary blindness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 109 reports of Fusarium keratitis infection in patients in 17 states since June 2005.
Fusarium Keratitis Fungal Infection Cases Detected in AtlantaMay 1st, 2006 In Atlanta City some contact lense users are diagnosed with an rare eye fungal infection, Fusarium Keratitis believe to have been caused by a popular contact lens solution. The daily soft lenses are made of soft, flexible plastic that allows oxygen to pass through the eyes and they require careful cleaning.
Bausch & Lomb Permanently Withdraw The Contact Lens Solution Which Found to Increase the Risk of Fusarium KeratitisSeptember 11th, 2006 A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has shown MoistureLoc to be a major contributing factor behind cases of the infections in Hong Kong and the US. They found that users of MoistureLoc solution were more than 20 times more likely to get the infection.
How to Protect from Fusarium KeratitisApril 19th, 2006 Guidelines for contact lens wearers to protect health of your eyes from fusarium keratitis, a rare eye infection, apparently caused by Renu lens solution, by following these guidelines from the American Optometric Association:
- Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by an optometrist and the patient information included with lens care products. - Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking the lenses overnight in enough multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
April 12th, 2006 at 10:26 am
[...] ant loss of vision. Many have needed corneal transplants. Read more (precautions etc.) on The Eye Care Blog. Also here and here. [...]