ReNu Timeline

May 19, 2004—The Food and Drug Administration approves Bausch & Lomb’s contact lens solution ReNu with MoistureLoc. Amid much fanfare, it goes on the market in late 2004. Summer of 2005—Eye doctors at Hong Kong Hospital Authority conduct a periodic review, voicing concern about the high number of patients suffering from Fusarium keratitis. The Hong Kong public is alerted about a recent outbreak of four cases of Fusarium keratitis, although no connection to Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu with MoistureLoc is mentioned. October 20, 2005—Hong Kong health officials inform Bausch & Lomb of a potential link between the outbreak of Fusarium keratitis and ReNu with MoistureLoc. Bausch & Lomb does not notify FDA of this. November 2005—Hong Kong health officials again tell Bausch & Lomb about a surge in hospital admissions from June to September due to Fusarium keratitis symptoms among contact lens wearers. February 20, 2006—Bausch & Lomb voluntarily suspends sales of ReNu with MoistureLoc in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia after 29 cases of Fusarium keratitis are found there since November 2005. March 3, 2006—New Jersey ophthalmologist David Chu tells Bausch & Lomb about three cases of Fusarium keratitis within the last three months. The company fails to notify the CDC within five days, so Dr. Chu does. An investigation begins in the U.S. March 22, 2006—The FDA begins a thorough inspection of Bausch & Lomb’s plant in Greenville, South Carolina. April 10, 2006—Bausch & Lomb stops shipping ReNu with MoistureLoc to U.S. stores but says they can continue to sell existing product until supplies run out. April 13, 2006—Bausch & Lomb issues a U.S. ReNu recall. Several major drug chains, including Walgreen’s, WalMart and CVS, have already removed ReNu with MoistureLoc from their shelves. April 17, 2006—The first personal injury ReNu lawsuit is filed in federal district court. May 15, 2006—Bausch & Lomb announces a worldwide ReNu recall. May 17, 2006—FDA issues a report critical of Bausch & Lomb for failing to adhere to regulations. August 23, 2006—The results of the CDC’s investigation are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It conclusively links the outbreak of Fusarium keratitis with use of ReNu with MoistureLoc. Summer of 2006—Legal experts say potential damages facing Bausch & Lomb over ReNu with MoistureLoc debacle range from $500 million to $1 billion, if not higher.