On the national news tonight. worth mentioning.

[Baileyj96 0]

Officials Probe Eye Infection Outbreak

By ANDREW BRIDGES

The Associated Press

Monday, April 10, 2006; 6:37 PM

WASHINGTON -- Bausch & Lomb voluntarily suspended shipment of a contact lens solution after federal health officials linked it Monday to a fungal eye infection that can cause temporary blindness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 109 reports of Fusarium keratitis infection in patients in 17 states since June 2005.

Federal and state health officials have interviewed just 30 of those patients. However, of the 28 who wore soft contact lens, however, 26 reported using Bausch & Lomb's ReNu brand contact lens solution or a generic type of solution also made by the Rochester, N.Y., company.

Bausch & Lomb said it would temporarily suspend shipments of ReNu with MoistureLoc made at its Greenville, S.C., plant.

"The CDC data released today are both troubling and perplexing, as there is an apparent disproportionate representation of U.S.-manufactured ReNu with MoistureLoc in the underlying data. The source of these infections has not been determined," company chairman and chief executive officer Ronald Zarrella said.

Five of the 26 patients also reported using other types of solutions in addition to ReNu, Bausch & Lomb said. And nine said they wore their lenses overnight, which is known to increase the risk of infection, the CDC said.

Dr. Daniel Schultz, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said it was too early to determine if Bausch & Lomb's solution was the cause of the infections. Both the FDA and CDC are investigating a growing number of reports of infection by the fungus. An estimated 30 million Americans wear soft contact lenses.

"We are relatively early in this investigation. It may be we will find this particular product does not have an association. We may find a strong association," Schultz told reporters.

The fungus is commonly found in plant material and soil in tropical and subtropical areas. Singapore health officials noticed an increase in reports of infection in January and discovered 39 cases involving contact lens users from 2005 to February of this year. Cases have also been reported in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

In February, Bausch & Lomb halted sales of its ReNu contact lens solution in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Without treatment, which can last two to three months, the infection can scar the cornea and blind its victims. Eight U.S. patients have required cornea transplants.

Soft contact users with eye redness or pain, tearing, increased light sensitivity, blurred vision or discharge should stop wearing contacts and contact a doctor immediately, said Dr. Malvina Eydelman, director of the FDA's Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices. The FDA also advises users to wash their hands well with soap and water before handling lenses and to follow cleaning and storage guidelines.

In addition, contact lens wearers who use ReNu with MoistureLoc should do so with caution, the FDA said.

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[Miranda&James 8]

I use that brand, but my bottle was gotten ages ago so I think I'm good!

[Baileyj96 0]

yeah i threw away two bottles . it did mention a specific kind of the solution and I didn't have any of it but i still threw away the brand they mentioned.

Baileyj

[Jasman0717 9]

I'll stick with my glasses

[Jaylen Brit 0]

This kind of thing, not with this product tho, has been mentioned before in relation to contact lens wearers; specifically people who wear lenses without a break.

That's partly why i had my eyes 'fixed' with a laser - and now I don't need either glasses OR lenses

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I gouged my eyes out.. 'just in case'. No infections for me, thank you

[Jaylen Brit 0]

I gouged my eyes out.. 'just in case'. No infections for me, thank you

LMFAO Richie! :lol:

[faith 0]

I watched the report last night.

FIRST of all, 95% of the cases used that fluid. That is not undisputable proof that it came from that fluid as not all cases used that fluid. I think that the company did the right thing by pulling it off the shelves... it shows that they are concerned and want to find out where the bacteria is coming from.

The thing that cracked me up was that the news reporter said "follow the directions on your solution and always wash your hands before handling your contacts" DUH!!!! That's common sense to wash your hands.

I wear the 30 day disposable contacts, the ones you wear and sleep in and then throw away after 30 days, so I don't have to deal with solutions at all. I'm glad for that... don't need an eye infection!!

[almaty 19]

I'll stick with my glasses

same here

[Miranda&James 8]

I'm gonna get the surgery someday but for now I couldn't live with my contacts. I take care of them terribly though, I wear them a lot longer than I should without taking them out I've never had an eye infection before but I've had a couple times where something got in my eye at night and I woke up with a horrible red eye I couldn't open Can't wait till I can get the surgery and not wear them; my worst fear is losing all my contacts and glasses and not being able to see!

[Welshcookie 17]

hehehehe.....I was watching a game of Rugby a few weeks ago and they stopped the game cos one of the players lost his contact lens....he found it on him somewhere, licked it and popped it right back in....

I haven't worn contact lenses in years because the were always uncomfortable because of my astigmatism....but apparently they are much better these days so maybe I will give them another go....although I would love to have my sight corrected surgically

Edited April 14, 2006 by welshcookie