Renu Lens Cleaner Not The Only Cause of Fusarium Keratitis - Eye Fungal Infections
An analysis of the first outbreak of fusarium keratitis, doctors say that the potentially blinding eye infections linked to a Bausch & Lomb Inc. contact-lens cleaner may continue even with the product off the market
About one-third of the patients didn't use the ReNu with MoistureLoc solution, and more than 80 percent failed to properly care for or clean their contact lenses, the study said.
"Fusarium keratitis in contact-lens wearers should no longer be considered a rare possibility," Donald Tan of the Singapore Eye Research Institute, senior author of the report said in an e-mail response to questions Tuesday. "While most cases were related to the MoistureLoc formulation, there have been some confirmed cases in which other contact lens solutions were used."
Doctors should have a "high index of suspicion," Tan added. Tan's report appears in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Twelve people contracted the infection in Singapore after Feb. 17, when sales of ReNu solutions were halted there, the report said. Eleven said they continued to use the cleaner even though they were aware of media advisories to stop.
Many people don't know the fungus is a somewhat common cause of corneal infection in underdeveloped countries and a major reason for cornea transplants in many places, including India and China, he said.
Filed under Eye Treatment
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