Lens Solution A
Dangerous Contact Lens Solution Linked to Acanthamoeba Keratitis
& Microbial
Keratitis in Addition to Fungal Keratitis. Have your eyes been, once
again, placed in danger of Bacterial Eye Infections, vision damage, or
loss of sight?
On May 25, AMO (Advanced Medical Optics) announced a recall of their
‘No Rub’
Complete MoisturePlus Multipurpose Contact Solution. Although the company
stands by its product and casts the blame on contact lens wearers who
‘improperly store, disinfect or handle’ their contact lenses, the
CDC forced
AMO to recall Complete Moisture Plus.
This Complete Moisture Plus recall is not so distant from Bausch &
Lomb’s recall
of ReNu with MoistureLoc, which caused serious injury to many contact lens
wearers. AMO’s press release states they have known since January of 2005
about at least 46 patients who claimed to have contracted a unique form of
keratitis from the AMO Recall solution.
This keratitis is called ‘acanthamoeba keratitis (AK)’. From
all indications,
AMO Moisture Plus recall was delayed as long as Bausch did in coming forward
and recalling the
product; potentially exposing an untold number of unsuspecting contact
lens wearers to this painful (AK) infection that
can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
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Other reports seem to illustrate a company who knew about the potential link
between (AK) and their Complete MoisturePlus Multipurpose Solution since
as early as 2004. In 2004, the infection first occurred in more than a dozen
people against the normal count of
one or two in a year. Dr. Elmer Tu,
an ophthalmologist at the University
of Illinois ,
Chicago , along with other doctors
attended around 35 patients from May 2003 to September of 2006, 55% of whom
were infected due to usage
of AMO Complete MoisturePlus recall solution.
According to Dr. Tu, AMO’s Complete MoisturePLUS solution is not defective.
It is just not
designed to provide a shield to the eyes when they’re exposed to soil or
water where the risk of bacterial infection is significant. Julie Zawisza,
an FDA spokes person, said,’ The solution is not marketed to protect
against the amoeba. But it’s supposed to be free of any type of
microorganisms. It’s not supposed to result in anyone getting an
infection.’
Once again, one must wonder what corporations who suspect problems with their
products are thinking when they wait one, two, or more years before warning
the public about a potential hazard provoked or caused by their product.
We wonder how much injury must occur before corporate dollars are sufficient.
Acanthamoeba keratitis & Microbial Keratitis patients suffer symptoms
very similar to other
common bacterial eye infection, but the AK infection can result in the
loss of eye sight. If you experience symptoms, including the following, we
encourage you to first
immediately seek treatment from an experienced, eye care professional:
‘ Eye pain
‘ Eye redness and soreness
‘ Hypersensitivity to light
‘ Reduction in visual acuity
‘ Temporary or, at the worst, permanent blindness
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