Optometrists agree with ReNu recall

Friday, 14 April 2006

Doctors from the American Optometric Association (AOA) have voiced their support for Bausch & Lomb’s decision to voluntarily pull its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution from stores in the United States. ReNu with MoistureLoc has been linked with outbreaks of the potentially blinding fungal infection Fusarium keratitis in the U.S, Europe and Asia. “Patients should immediately discontinue using ReNu with MoistureLoc,” says contact lens expert Dr. Arthur Epstein. “This is a serious infection that can cause permanent loss of sight.” There were 109 cases of Fusarium keratitis under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of April 9. Of the 30 patients interviewed so far, 26 were ReNu wearers. The U.S. ReNu recall comes after Bausch & Lomb had already decided to issue a ReNu recall for Singapore and Malaysia in February 2006. The first cases of Fusarium keratitis linked with ReNu were reported in July 2005. Dr. Epstein advised consumers who were using ReNu with MoistureLoc to switch to another contact lens solution immediately. The AOA also warns that even though many contact lens solutions are approved for use without rubbing, consumers should rub their lenses to lower their risk of infection.