What Contact Lens Wearers Need to Know

April 14, 2006 — -- It's been a confusing few weeks for people who wear contact lenses -- first came the news that a rare fungal eye infection had hit dozens of people across the United States, primarily affecting contact lens wearers.

Then, on Monday, Bausch & Lomb, one of the major manufacturers of contact lens solution, announced it was suspending shipments of its ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution over concerns that it could be linked to the rash of infections. On Thursday, the company, facing legal action over the fracas, also asked retailers to remove the product from stores.

So where does this leave the millions of people who wear contact lenses -- many of whom use Bausch & Lomb's products?

"I wouldn't panic," said corneal disease expert Dr. Thomas L. Steinemann. "I'm not downplaying or minimizing this problem. I think we need to figure it out. … This is not what I would call an epidemic."

So far, doctors have reported 109 cases of fusarium keratitis to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates contact lenses as a medical device. The agencies have investigated 30 of the cases, and it has been determined that most of those patients were using a ReNu product.

However, Bausch & Lomb insists that it does not know why there could be a possible link between one of its products and fungal eye infections.

"We find ourselves in a position where the safety of one of our products, ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured at our United States plant, is in question. We've done a series of exhaustive tests on the product, and a thorough inspection of the plant, and nothing has yet been found to show … MoistureLoc … contributed to these infections in any way," said Bausch & Lomb CEO Ron Zarella in a company news release.

Compare that to the fact that at least 30 million or so people use contact lenses, and the actual risk to people is very low at this point, said Steinemann, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University.