Eye Fungus

SERIOUS EYE FUNGUS IS TIED TO CONTACT LENS SOLUTION

New information indicates that the popular contact lens solution ReNu with MoistureLoc is linked to a rare and painful fungal disease in the eye. Although this product was recently pulled from store shelves worldwide, “if you or someone you know is still using this product, it should be discarded immediately,” said Dr. Robert Maloney, Los Angeles LASIK eye surgeon. “This infection, called fusarium keratitis, is extremely serious. It can cause cornea scarring or blindness,” Dr. Maloney said. The following symptoms can indicate fusarium infection in a contact lens wearer:



Sudden onset of blurred or fuzzy vision.
Red, irritated eyes lasting hours after contacts are removed.
Pain in and around the eyes.
Increased light sensitivity.
Excessive tearing or discharge


Fusarium infection has only been associated with soft contact lens wear with the ReNu with MoistureLoc solution. Los Angeles LASIK patients are not at increased risk. Other ReNu products made by Bausch & Lomb have not been associated with fusarium and may be used safely.

Eye doctors may place their patients on antibiotics pending results of laboratory tests, Dr Robert Maloney said. Should fungal treatment be warranted, topical or oral anti-fungal agents may be used. In some cases surgical intervention is necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Food & Drug Administration issued a global recall of the product after the agencies investigated ReNu with MoistureLoc following multiple reports of fusarium keratitis across the country. The product once had a 41 percent share of the U.S. market. The American Optometric Association says there are more than 30 million contact lens wearers.

Until now the corneal disease, which is caused by a fungal organism, rarely has been reported in the contact lens wearing population. It typically occurs after trauma associated with plant matter or in immuno-compromised individuals. The higher incidence of fungal keratitis among normal contact lens wearers is a new finding.

“Our interest in the MoistureLoc product has been based on the disproportionate number of cases of fusarium keratitis associated with ReNu with MoistureLoc compared to the overall product market share,” an FDA spokesman said.

Bausch & Lomb officials discovered that “unique characteristics of the formulation…in certain unusual circumstances can increase the risk of fusarium infection” and have ceased production of the product. In its product recall announcement the FDA also said that “data available do not indicate a problem” with Bausch & Lomb’s ReNu MultiPlus or ReNu Multi-Purpose contact lens cleaning solutions.


The CDC continues to study the cause of the increased incidence of the disease and the FDA said it will continue to review cultures and epidemiological data.

For more information on Dr. Robert Maloney, laser eye surgery in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills , including the cost of LASIK eye surgery, visit http://www.maloneyvision.com/.



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