ReNu Results in Fungal Infections, Corneal Transplants

Here’s a black eye for Baush & Lomb — there’s a new JAMA report that their ReNu contact lens cleaning solution led to a rare fungal infection, and in advanced cases, required corneal transplants:

The study, “Multistate Outbreak of Fusarium Keratitis Associated with use of Contact Lens Solution,” formally concludes that ReNu with MoistureLoc was responsible for the outbreak of potentially blinding fungal eye infections in the last year. The research was based on 164 confirmed cases of Fusarium keratitis in the U.S. from June 2005 to April 2006. Bausch & Lomb finally issued a world-wide recall of ReNu with MoistureLoc later in May 2006.

It would seem that B&L were not exactly helpful when the first reports came in:

“Adding insult to injury is the recent campaign by Bausch & Lomb in print and television media, which focuses on improper use of the product, seemingly seeking to shift the blame and portray infected users as responsible,” says Paul J. Pennock, Director of Weitz & Luxenberg’s drug and medical device litigation unit. “The findings of this study put that theory to rest,” Pennock added.

We at Medgadget were wide-eyed at this news; then we shook our head and adjusted our glasses…
More from JAMA…