Baush & Lomb lens solution

Got this ST article frm Kelvin the Goh thru the SingSoc mailing list. Thought i'll post it here for the benefit of those (both in SG and UK) who read DuhEconomist.com but have not seen this article... Pls take care of ur eyes, or our readership may be affected... =p

Feb 22, 2006:
Stop using Bausch & Lomb lens solution, MOH advises
by Salma Khalik

CONTACT lens wearers should stop using Bausch & Lomb's ReNu lens solution, because of a 'very strong association' between the solution and a recent spate of fungal corneal infections, the Health Ministry said yesterday.

At an urgently called press conference, Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, said 39 people were now known to have suffered fungal infections of the cornea since January last year, though it was only in the second half of the year that the number of infections shot up.

Of this group, 34 said they had used Bausch & Lomb's ReNu solution to clean their lenses, while four could not remember what solution they had used, and one had not used ReNu.

Investigations into the cause of the infections began in December, but it may be months before anything conclusive is known, he said.

As ReNu has only 40 per cent of the market, the great proportion of patients who used it suggests that it could be the cause of the spike in infections.

There are 400,000 contact lens wearers here and an average of about one fungal infection a month.

The ministry says that five cases were diagnosed in the first half of last year, followed by 24 in the second half of the year and 10 last month.

Three in four were teenagers or young adults aged 15 to 34 years old, with about equal numbers of men and women.

Three people had such severe infections that they needed emergency corneal transplants to save their eyesight.

Associate Professor Ang Chong Lye, director of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), said the problem could be caused by the solution not cleaning the lenses properly.

Mr Foo Eng Chuan, Bausch & Lomb's managing director for South-east Asia, said the company had introduced a new formulation called MoistureLoc in late 2004.

Both the new and old formulations are on sale here. It is not known which formulation the infected lens wearers used. The company has taken all its contact lens solutions off the market pending investigations.

Asked if the company would compensate those who had suffered infections, Mr Foo said the company would take 'appropriate steps' if ReNu were found to be the cause of the infections.

Dr Chan Wing Kwong, a senior consultant at SNEC, said fungal infections were difficult to diagnose and treat. They have similar symptoms to bacterial infections, but take longer to develop.

Unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated with a wide range of antibiotics, there is limited medication for fungal infections of the eye.

Symptoms include redness, pain and blurred vision. Occasionally, there can be a white patch on the cornea.

Dr Balaji urged all contact lens users who have such symptoms to see their doctors immediately.

The ministry advised people to practise proper contact lens care and not to use them beyond the period recommended by manufacturers.

Yesterday, Bausch & Lomb issued a statement to say it would 'stand shoulder to shoulder' with the Government to investigate the source of the outbreak, and would explore all options to ensure public safety.

It said consumers should call its hotline on 6586 0206 for any assistance or clarification.