Fungal Eye Infections May Be Linked to Lens Solution

Archives Admin · #1 (**permalink**) 04-13-2006, 11:46 AM

If you wear contact lenses, here’s some health news you should pay close attention to. There could be a possible problem with a popular lens solution.

Bausch & Lomb has stopped shipments of its ReNu brand contact lens solution with MoistureLoc after a number of people using the product reported getting a serious eye infection. Walgreen’s is pulling all ReNu products from its shelves. And Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and others are pulling only the Moisture Loc solution.

The Case Count

Bausch and Lomb is voluntarily suspending shipments of ReNu with Moisture Loc after federal health officials linked it to a fungal eye infection that can cause temporary blindness. The Centers for Disease Control is looking into more than more than 109 cases of Fusarium keratitis infection in patients in seventeen states since last June. Of the 30 patients interviewed so far, 26 said they had used the Bausch & Lomb contact lens solution, or a generic store brand also made by Bausch & Lomb. The ReNu product is made at the company's Greenville, South Carolina plant.

What Should You do if You Have the Product?

Dr. Mick Vanden Bosch, an ophthalmologist with Sioux Valley Clinic in Sioux Falls says, "If you have it and haven't had any problems, it's probably not a big deal to use it, just be careful. On the other hand, for a few bucks for a bottle of solution... for peace of mind, getting another brand might not be bad for a few weeks until they figure it out."

At this point, problems have only been found with people who wear soft contacts. This type of fungal infection is usually rare. If left untreated it could cause you to go blind within a matter of days.

The Concern Here in KELOLAND

You'll be hard-pressed to find this contact lens solution on drug stores shelves in KELOLAND tonight. Vanden Bosch says, "We're not sure that the ReNu product is the culprit, but it is possible."

Cases of Fusarium keratitis have already been found in California, Connecticut, Florida, George, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont. It’s probable more contact lens users could be infected. Vanden Bosch says, "Keratitis is just an infection of the cornea. The cornea is the front clear window of the eye that the contact lens sits on."

While most fungal eye infections are slow to develop, this one does its damage alarmingly quickly. Vanden Bosch explains, "It grows pretty fast, and over a period of days. It can eat into the cornea and a number of people who have had the infection have had to have emergency cornea transplants to save the eye."

Symptoms to Watch For
* Sudden blurred vision
* Unusual redness
* Pain in the eye
* Excessive tearing or discharge
* Increased sensitivity to light

Vanden Bosch adds, "If there's an infection and 24 hours goes by and the redness hasn't gotten better, or has gotten worse... if the vision drops, or if the pain is getting worse, have the eye looked at."

Because even though this fungus is fast-acting, the treatment for it isn't. According to Vanden Bosch, "Most fungal infections are long drawn out affairs... months of eye drops, starting out every hour or two, and staying pretty frequently for weeks to try to eradicate the infection."

At this point, no one's saying you have to toss your bottle of ReNu. But then again, it only costs a few dollars to buy piece of mind.

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Fungal Eye Infections May Be Linked to Lens Solution

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