Contact Lens Solution Recalled Due to Infection Risk

May 26, 2007 – San Francisco, CA - Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution is being recalled because it has been linked to an increased risk for a rare but serious eye infection. If you are using this product for your lens care, you should discontinue its use and also dispose of your current pair of lenses and the lens case.

On May 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a public health alert about an increased risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis, a serious eye infection, among contact lens wearers. The recent outbreak of eye infections is now being linked primarily to Complete Moisture Plus No-Rub contact lens solution. The manufacturer, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO), has voluntarily recalled the solution and is encouraging consumers not to use it until further information is available.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating 138 cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis that have developed since Jan. 1, 2005.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare by potentially blinding eye infection. The infection is caused by a microscopic, free-living amoeba called Acanthamoeba, which can invade the transparent outer covering of the eye called the cornea. These amoebas are very common in nature and can be found in all areas of the environment, including water, soil, and air.

The risk of getting an Acanthamoeba infection from contact lens wear is extremely low. Still, you should be aware of the symptoms of infection. Early signs of Acanthamoeba keratitis can be resemble the symptoms of other more common eye infections. The symptoms, which can last several weeks to months, are not the same for everybody and might include:

Eye pain
Eye redness
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
Sensation of something in the eye
Excessive tearing

Maintaining good contact lens-care practices can reduce your chances of eye infection. Consumers should be careful to handle and store their lenses properly. In particular:

Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses.
Do not use tap water to rinse your lenses.
Rinse storage cases with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and leave the cases open to dry after each use.
Do not transfer your contact lens solution from its original container to any container other than your storage case.

Early diagnosis is important for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. The infection is usually diagnosed by an eye specialist based on symptoms, growth of the amoeba from a scraping of the eye, and/or seeing the amoeba by a process called confocal microscopy. The infection is treated with one or more prescription eye medications. The infection can sometimes be difficult to treat and the best treatment regimen for each patient should be determined by an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.).

Eyecare America