Contact Lens Solution Tied to Eye Infections

Bausch & Lomb suspended shipments of "ReNu MoistureLoc" contact lens solution, when the company found out that this solution may be linked to a rare fungal outbreak among contact lens users.

The solution is normally used by all contact lens wearers to rinse and store the lenses when they do not wear them. So far, 109 people have been discovered to have a fungal infection of the eye's cornea. 26 people of the 30 confirmed cases so far have reported to be using ReNu in the month before the infection.

Even if this number represents a small fraction of the 30 million people in the United States who wear contact lenses, health agencies issued warnings to contact lens wearers and health care practitioners.

"Wearers may want to consider performing a rub-and-rinse lens cleaning method, rather than a no-rub method, in order to minimize the number of germs and reduce the chances of infection," said one of these agencies.

Also, some measures should be taken in order to prevent the infection: contact lens users must wash their hands with soap and water before touching the lenses, they must replace them according to the timetable given by their doctor, replace the contact lenses case every 3-6 months, keep the case clean and if one experiences redness, pain, tearing, increasing light sensitivity, blurry vision, discharge or swelling, that person should remove the lenses immediately and see a doctor.