March 2007
Dangerous fungus lurks in homes
RECALLED If you still have a bottle of ReNu with MoistureLoc, don’t use it.
The outbreak of eye infections that led Bausch & Lomb to withdraw its ReNu with MoistureLoc multipurpose contact-lens solution
from the U.S. in April 2006 was caused by Fusarium, an aggressive fungus that might be lurking in your tap water, bathroom
sink, or shower drain.
Public-health investigators found no evidence that the unopened bottles harbored Fusarium. But Renu with MoistureLoc might have been particularly hospitable to the fungal growth that can occur when people take shortcuts with contact care. One possible reason: Its formulation included a special combination of polymers, not used in other solutions, that in theory might have nourished Fusarium.
The investigation found that the victims did tend to reuse the ReNu with MoistureLoc that was already in their lens case--a risky practice with any contact solution. Indeed, Bausch & Lomb’s own research with common solutions--including ReNu with MoistureLoc as well as ReNu MultiPlus, which was not involved in the outbreak and remains a leading brand--showed that the products’ antimicrobial action began to fail after two reuses.
Of course, no one should be using the recalled solution, ReNu with MoistureLoc. But more than 12,000 bottles were sold in the U.S. between April 24, 2006, shortly after the withdrawal request, and Dec. 3, 2006, the latest date for which figures are available, according to Information Resources, a Chicago-based market-research firm. A spokeswoman for Bausch & Lomb said it sends someone to remove bottles from stores when it learns they’re still being sold. If you still have a bottle, call the company at 888-666-2258 for refund information.
Public-health investigators found no evidence that the unopened bottles harbored Fusarium. But Renu with MoistureLoc might have been particularly hospitable to the fungal growth that can occur when people take shortcuts with contact care. One possible reason: Its formulation included a special combination of polymers, not used in other solutions, that in theory might have nourished Fusarium.
The investigation found that the victims did tend to reuse the ReNu with MoistureLoc that was already in their lens case--a risky practice with any contact solution. Indeed, Bausch & Lomb’s own research with common solutions--including ReNu with MoistureLoc as well as ReNu MultiPlus, which was not involved in the outbreak and remains a leading brand--showed that the products’ antimicrobial action began to fail after two reuses.
Of course, no one should be using the recalled solution, ReNu with MoistureLoc. But more than 12,000 bottles were sold in the U.S. between April 24, 2006, shortly after the withdrawal request, and Dec. 3, 2006, the latest date for which figures are available, according to Information Resources, a Chicago-based market-research firm. A spokeswoman for Bausch & Lomb said it sends someone to remove bottles from stores when it learns they’re still being sold. If you still have a bottle, call the company at 888-666-2258 for refund information.
