The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to improve contact lens safety by reminding consumers of the importance of following proper cleaning and storing procedures. Consumers who do not follow instructions for contact lens care and use increase their risk of serious eye infections that can lead to blindness.

To support proper cleaning and storage, the FDA has developed a new video on contact lens safety, which can be found on the FDA’s Web site (www.fda.gov), along with an in-depth Consumer Update article. The video and the article stress the importance of emptying the solution out of the contact lens case after each use and using the rub-and-rinse method for added effectiveness. Other important lens care tips include:

• Do not top off or reuse lens cleaning solution;
• Use a contact lens solution to clean, rinse, and then air dry contact lens cases after each use;
• Do not expose contact lenses or lens storage cases to any type of water or other non-sterile solutions. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: contact lens multipurpose solution products, contact lens product, contact lens solutions, fda, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, multipurpose contact lens care products, ophthalmic devices

Yesterday I switched back to contact lenses from glasses. I have worn contacts off and on for the last 25 years or so and over the last three years I have almost exclusively worn contact lenses. I rememver the last time that I got contact lenses the eye doctor asked me how long I wore my contact lenses and I replied “about 12 hours a day”, he was shocked and asked me what I had against my eyes to treat them so badly. I am sure that I will be better this time around.

More than 30 million Americans use contact lenses, according to the Contact Lens Council. In addition to offering flexibility, convenience, and a “no-glasses” appearance, “contacts” help correct a variety of vision disorders, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and poor focusing with reading material.

But contact lenses also present potential risks. “Because they are worn directly on the eye, they can lead to conditions such as eye infections and corneal ulcers,” says James Saviola, Branch Chief for FDA’s Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices. “These conditions can develop very quickly and can be very serious. In rare cases, they can lead to blindness.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: astigmatism, blindness, Branch Chief, conjunctivitis, Contact Lens Council, contact lens solutions, contact lense, contact lenses, eye infection, eye infections, farsightedness, FDA's Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Federal Trade Commission, fresh contact lens solution, glasses, homemade saline solution, itching, James Saviola, lens solution, lense infection, nearsightedness, over-the-counter devices, pain, sterile water, sterility, travel size containers, vision disorders

All of us contact lens wearers know that it is a good idea to take good care of your lenses or your eyes will suffer. This includes cleaning contact lenses and not wearing your contact lenses for more than eight to ten hours. Here are some tips from the FDA.

The FDA and CDC are urgently advising consumers to take precautions to prevent contamination of the lenses and the products used to maintain them. These preventive practices include:

* Wash hands with soap and water, and dry (lint-free method) before handling lenses.
* Wear and replace lenses according to the schedule prescribed by the doctor.
* Follow the specific lens cleaning and storage guidelines from the doctor and the solution manufacturer.
* Keep the contact lens case clean and replace every 3-6 months.
* Remove the lenses and consult your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as redness, pain, tearing, increased light sensitivity, blurry vision, discharge or swelling.

In addition, regardless of which cleaning/disinfecting solution used, wearers may want to consider performing a “rub and rinse” lens cleaning method, rather than a no-rub method, in order to minimize the number of germs and reduce the chances of infection.

Bausch & Lomb has recommended that consumers stop using ReNu with MoistureLoc immediately and discard all remaining MoistureLoc solution including partially used or opened bottles. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to investigate reports of fungal keratitis in an effort to determine all contributing factors and/or products that may place contact lens wearers at increased risk for Fusarium keratitis. As part of this ongoing investigation, we are continuing joint inspections of the Bausch & Lomb plant and facilities in Greenville, SC including testing of products, environmental factors and raw materials. Because of the nature of the organism (Fusarium), extensive microbiological testing is being conducted and may take up to one month to fully analyze. We are committed to continuing a comprehensive approach aimed at determining the cause of these infections and will provide regular updates on our activities through preliminary public health notices issued through FDA.

As reported in the MMWR, patients with confirmed cases of Fusarium keratitis have reported using various contact lens cleaning solutions including various types of ReNu products and generics. We continue to confirm reported cases associated with products other than ReNu with MoistureLoc. Our interest in the MoistureLoc product is based on the disproportionate number of case of Fusarium keratitis associated with ReNu with Moisture Loc compared to the overall product market share. The trends of reported cases involving various contact lens solutions other than MoistureLoc have remained consistent throughout our investigation.

FDA continues to work with the CDC to investigate the Fusarium keratitis infections and will determine whether or not further action needs to be taken. While the investigation is ongoing, FDA will continue to update the public health notice and advice to consumers as needed. In addition, the FDA and CDC are urgently advising consumers to consult your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as redness, pain, tearing, increased light sensitivity, blurry vision, discharge or swelling. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released further clarification on the information on the multi-state outbreak of Fusarium keratitis that may be associated with contact lens use.

Tags: Bausch & Lomb, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contact lens cleaning solutions, contact lens solutions, fda, food and drug administration, Greenville, keratitis, light sensitivity, pain, ReNu, solution manufacturer, South Carolina