Eye infection leads to ReNu lawsuit

Thursday, 08 June 2006

A Michigan woman has filed a lawsuit against Bausch & Lomb after her use of the company’s ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution possibly caused a rare eye fungus known as Fusarium keratitis. Since using the ReNu contact lens solution, Gina Macchia has undergone two cornea transplants, procedures that yield huge medical bills. The Fusarium keratitis is believed to be caused by the contact solution’s failure to properly disinfect the contact lenses, causing the eye infection. Macchia is one of roughly 100 people to file ReNu lawsuits recently after contracting Fusarium keratitis. She began using the ReNu lens solution in November 2005, months before the May 2006 ReNu recall. After many studies reported on the link between Bausch & Lomb’s lens solution and outbreaks of Fusarium keratitis, the company finally issued a ReNu recall to curb the outbreak of the eye fungus. Most people did not know of the risk and used the ReNu lens solution before being notified of a ReNu recall. Macchia is asking for more than $25,000 in damages in her ReNu lawsuit to help cover medical expenses likely caused by her use of ReNu with MoistureLoc. Bausch & Lomb, meanwhile, continues to investigate the link between the contact lens solution and Fusarium keratitis.