Manufacturer Of Contact Lens Care Solutions Told To Withdraw Products

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all ReNu multipurpose contact lens care solutions manufactured by Bausch & Lomb from the local market following cases of contact lens-related fungal eye infections.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, who issued the order Wednesday night, said there was no time frame given to the company to withdraw its products "but they should be responsible".
He said this to reporters after launching a Swedish product, ETAC, at the official residence of the Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia, Helena Sangeland, here.
The minister was elaborating on a statement issued earlier by the ministry which asked all manufacturers and suppliers of contact lens solutions to check and test their products to ensure they were safe following the fungal eye infections reported in Singapore and Hong Kong recently.
Dr Chua said there were three contact lens solutions produced by Bausch & Lomb marketed locally under the brand names of ReNu, Alcon and Complete.
However, he said, the withdrawal order only applied to ReNu based on information received from the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital.
The ministry's statement said that as of today, the Tun Hussein Onn Hospital had listed 14 contact lens-related infective keratitis cases between January 2005 and February 2006.
"Out of these 14, six patients cited ReNu as the solution used, one used a combination of ReNu and Alcon solutions while four reported using Complete solution," the statement added.
The ministry advised the public to get immediate medical attention and treatment at the nearest hospital or clinic if they had any eye infection related to the use of contact lens.
It also reminded all users of contact lens to observe proper contact lens cleaning and care regimes.
Lenses must be rubbed with the fingers and rinsed thoroughly before soaking overnight in a multipurpose solution while disposable contact lenses must not be used beyond their recommended disposal period.
"The multipurpose solution in the lens storage case must be changed every day even if the lenses are not used daily while contact lens storage cases should also be replaced at least every three months," the statement said.
Users should stop wearing the lenses if they develop any redness, blurring of vision or pain of the eye and to consult a doctor or contact lens practitioner, it said.
Alternatively, it added, contact lens users might wish to use spectacles instead for the time being.