Number of eye infection cases rises

Thursday, 27 April 2006

New figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention place the number of confirmed or suspected cases of the fungal eye infection Fusarium keratitis at 176. Previous CDC figures placed the number of infections at 109. The agency also said that it has observed cases in 28 states, up from 17 in the previous figures. The CDC figures were collected as part of its investigation into an outbreak of Fusarium keratitis infections among users of Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution. The CDC is currently testing the Bausch & Lomb plant in Greenville, South Carolina, where ReNu with MoistureLoc is produced to see whether contamination that might have occurred there led to the outbreak. Although investigators have been unable to establish a definitive link between ReNu with MoistureLoc and the rise in infections, strong circumstantial evidence led Bausch & Lomb to issue a ReNu recall in April 2006. The Food and Drug Administration has advised all users of ReNu with MoistureLoc to stop using the product and to throw away any remaining bottles that they have. Fusarium keratitis infections can cause scarring to the cornea and blindness if not properly treated. Several users of ReNu with MoistureLoc have filed ReNu lawsuits because of damage to their eyes which they say was caused by using the contact lens solution.