Contact Lens Solution Linked to Acanthamoeba Keratitis

John Hopkins

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On May 25, AMO (Advanced Medical Optics) announced a recall of their "No Rub" solution, Complete® MoisturePlus ™ Multipurpose Solution. Although the company stands by its product and casts the blame on contact lens wearers who "improperly store, disinfect or handle" their contact lenses, the CDC forced them to recall the solution

This recall is not so distant from Bausch & Lomb's recall of ReNu with MoistureLoc, which caused serious injury to many contact lens wearers. AMO's press release states they have known since January of 2005 about at least 46 patients who claimed to have contracted a unique form of keratitis from the AMO solution. This keratitis is called "acanthamoeba keratitis (AK)". From all indications, AMO delayed as long as Bausch did in coming forward and recalling the product; potentially exposing an untold number of unsuspecting contact lens wearers to this painful eye infection that can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.

In 2004, the eye infection first occurred in more than a dozen people against the normal count of one or two in a year. Dr. Elmer Tu, an ophthalmologist at the University of Illinois, Chicago, along with other doctors attended around 35 patients from May 2003 to September of 2006, 55% of whom were infected due to usage of AMO's solution.

One must wonder what corporations who suspect problems with their products are thinking when they wait one, two, or more years before warning the public about a potential hazard provoked or caused by their product. We wonder how much injury must occur before corporate dollars are sufficient.