Bausch & Lomb admits it knew of ReNu infection link

Thursday, 27 April 2006

Bausch & Lomb now admits that it was aware of the link between its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution and the dangerous eye infection Fusarium keratitis in November 2005. The company says that it was notified by health officials in Hong Kong about a growing number of infections among ReNu users. Despite these warnings of the potential dangers of ReNu, Bausch & Lomb failed to notify the Food and Drug Administration of the risk for eye infection posed to ReNu customers in the United States. It was only after an FDA inspection of Bausch & Lomb’s Greenville, South Carolina plant in March 2006 that the company stopped selling ReNu with MoistureLoc in the U.S. Bausch & Lomb had halted sales of ReNu in Singapore and Hong Kong in February because of pressure from officials there. So far, no ReNu recall has been issued. Bausch & Lomb stock fell nearly 3% as news of the company’s early knowledge of ReNu’s dangers reached Wall Street. Experts estimate that hundreds, and potentially thousands, of patients in the U.S. may have suffered eye damage from using ReNu. The first ReNu lawsuit was filed in Florida earlier this month. More ReNu lawsuits are expected to be filed as additional cases come to light.