Area Eye Doctors Raised Warning Linking Eye Solution to Disease

Archives Admin · #1 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 12:26 PM

Two local eye doctors say they were among the first to report local cases of a rare fungal infection of the cornea associated with Bausch & Lomb's ReNu contact lens solution, sparking an investigation by federal health officials that led to Bausch & Lomb suspending shipment of the product this week.

Dr. Ronald Warwar of Warwar Eye Group in Kettering said he saw two patients since late January suffering from a fungal corneal ulcer, which can cause temporary blindness. Both reported using ReNu contact lens solution.

Then on March 1, he received an e-mail from the American Academy of Ophthalmology discussing 39 cases of fungal corneal ulcers from Singapore associated with the same solution.

"I've seen one case in the last 13 years prior to this," Warwar said of the infection, called Fusarium keratitis. "It's very rare and then these two cases were so close together. We questioned it but we didn't have any leads until the e-mail."

Warwar called his retired former partner, Dr. John D. Bullock, an expert in infectious diseases, epidemiology and public health who teaches at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

"This thing just didn't smell right immediately," Bullock said. He reported the cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA, where officials seemed concerned but clueless about the infections, he said.

A CDC official on Thursday could not identify what prompted the agency's investigation, though reports mention three cases out of New Jersey that were reported to the CDC on March 8, about the same time Bullock called.

Today the center is investigating 109 reports of Fusarium keratitis in patients in 17 states since June. Federal and state health officials have interviewed 30 of those patients. Of the 28 who wore soft lenses, 26 reported using Bausch & Lomb contact lens solution or a generic solution also made by the Rochester, N.Y., company.

Bausch & Lomb said its testing shows no definite link between its solution and the eye infections.

Suggestions, cautions

Bausch & Lomb encourages contact lens wearers to follow these guidelines from the American Optometric Association:

Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses as directed.

Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse before soaking them overnight.

Store lenses in the proper case and replace storage case every three months. Clean the contact lens case after each use.

Use the proper products to clean and disinfect lenses as recommended by your optometrist. Remember that saline solutions and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.

Only fresh solution should be used to clean and disinfect lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed every day.

Always replace old contacts when you get a new prescription.

Prevent Blindness Ohio, a volunteer Eye Health and safety organization, urges the public to seek medical attention immediately for any pain, irritation, redness, blurriness or changes in your vision.

For more information, visit www.pbohio.org or call (800) 301-2020.

Clinicians or microbiology laboratories should report cases of Fusarium keratitis to state and local health departments or directly to the CDC at (800) 893-0485.

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Area Eye Doctors Raised Warning Linking Eye Solution to Disease

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