Contact Lens Solution Yanked

(CBS)  A contact lens solution that federal officials say could lead to a rare but serious eye infection is being recalled. If left untreated, the infection could cost people their eyesight, the officials say.

Advanced Medical Optics is pulling its Complete MoisturePlus solution form store shelves. It's a cleanser for soft contact lenses that's also used to store them.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the Santa Ana, Calif., company is making the move as a precaution, after reports of acanthamoeba keratitis, which is caused by a parasite. The FDA says a link between the solution and the infection was identified by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention probe.

The solution appears to have led to infections in at least 138 patients since January 2005, the CDC says.

Consumers who wear soft contact lenses should stop using the solution, discard all partially-used or unopened bottles and replace their lenses and storage container, the FDA adds.

Dr. Robert Cykiert, an eye specialist and associate professor of ophthalmology at the NYU School of Medicine,

discussed the situation (video)

on The Early Show Tuesday with co-anchor Harry Smith.

Cykiert said it appears to be a matter of an agent the solution fails to protect against, as opposed to the solution being contaminated.

Symptoms of acanthamoeba keratitis include pain in an eye, redness, blurry vision, light sensitivity.

"If you're using (the solution), stop using it," Cykiert stressed. "It's very important to throw out the solution, throw out your case, throw out your contact lenses. Don't use anything that's been in contact with the solution. Dump everything. Your contacts or case may be contaminated (by germs the solution didn't kill), so even if you switch to new solution, you may still have some (germs) left. So, you need to start over."

Cykiert said the germ involved in this is different from the one in a big contact lens recall by Bausch & Lomb about a year ago.

For more on the recall, click here.

For more on the infection, click here and here.

[lisav03]

You have to put some blame on people for not following a proper regimen but the CDC is correct to draw up a red flag as a high amount of those infected in the study have a link to the solution. I read more at
http://www.eyecaresource.com/contact-lenses/amo-complete-moistureplus-recall.html

[lisav03]

You have to put some blame on people for not following a proper regimen but the CDC is correct to draw up a red flag as a high amount of those infected in the study have a link to the solution. I read more at
a href='http://www.eyecaresource.com/contact-lenses/amo-complete-moistureplus-recall.html' AMO Complete MoisturePlus Recall /a

[suzmarie11]

Thank you for your story regarding the Complete Moisture Contact Solution. My daughter, who uses this solution, is backpacking through Europe for a month and called last week with a severe eye infection. She was prescribed an antibiotic by a pharmacy in Spain, and the infection is slowly clearing up. However, she was unaware of the recall. We will have her eyes checked out thoroughly when she returns the end of June, hopefully no permanent damage has been done. Again, thank you for your story.

[dreyesight]

As an optometrist I appreciate the valuable reporting of the Contact Lens Solution recall, along with the possible symptoms of eye infection. The only exception I take is that no mention was made that the care of optometrists, as well as ophthalmologists, can and should be sought if an infection is suspected. Doctors of optometry are also well-qualified to diagnosis and treat infections of the cornea.

[pamalucy]

Thanks Harry & CBS. It just so happened that I went to visit my daughter over the weekend and I saw this partuclar solution on her bathroom sink. Between school and work I doubt if she would have heard about the recall. I, of course, called her immediately and told her to toss it along with her case and contacts.

We have been watching CBS news in the morning ever since my husband and I were married and we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in July. I remember watching when Harry was on the show the first time back in the early 80's. I was saddened when he left then and was very happy when he returned.

Thanks again for everything.

Pam Johnson