NEW YORK, April 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Parker & Waichman, LLP (http://www.yourlawyer.com) announced that it filed a suit on behalf of a man diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis after using ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) solution, manufactured by Bausch & Lomb, Inc. (NYSE:BOL). The suit was filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Last week, the CDC and FDA warned that ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) may be linked to serious fungal infections.
For more information on ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) please visit http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/renu_contact_solution or http://www.renulawsuit.com.
The injured party, who resides in Florida, was diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis in his left eye after using ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm). As a result of this serious infection, several procedures were performed on the eye to remove the fungus. When these procedures failed to remove the fungus, a corneal transplant was recommended and subsequently performed. At the time of filing of the lawsuit, it was too soon to know if the transplant would be successful. There is an 80% cornea rejection rate in patients receiving a cornea transplant who have been diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis. It is likely that the individual will require additional corneal transplants in the future.
On April 10, 2006 the FDA and the CDC issued public health warnings concerning serious fungal infections associated with contact lens solution use. Bausch & Lomb agreed to stop shipping the ReNu MoistureLoc(tm) brand contact lens solution. The CDC stated that it had interviewed 30 patients suspected of having fungal keratitis. Of these 30 patients, 28 wore soft contact lenses and 26 used Bausch & Lomb ReNu contact lens solution in the month prior to the fungal infection diagnosis. On April 13, 2006 Bausch & Lomb, Inc. recommended consumers switch to another lens care solution and asked all retailers to remove U.S. manufactured ReNu with MoistureLoc from their shelves.
Fusarium keratitis is a severe infection of the cornea. Risk factors for infection usually include trauma (generally with plant material), chronic ocular surface diseases, immunodeficiencies, and, rarely, contact lens use. An estimated 30 million persons in the United States wear soft contact lenses; the annual incidence of microbial keratitis is estimated to be 4-21 per 10,000 soft contact lens users. Fusarium keratitis is a condition more prevalent in warm climates. First-line treatment includes topical and oral antifungal medications; patients who do not respond to these treatments usually require surgical intervention, including corneal transplantation. These fungal infections are not transmitted from person to person.
"We have been contacted by thousands of people who claim to have suffered infections and injuries after using ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) as well as other Bausch & Lomb contact lens solutions," commented Jerrold S. Parker, one of the founding partners of Parker & Waichman, LLP, a law firm committed to advocating for victims' rights. "This case is among the first of many cases that we intend to file on behalf of people who have been diagnosed with fungal infections after using these products. We will continue to aggressively represent victims of ReNu products who have suffered eye damage and vision impairment."
About Parker & Waichman, LLP
Parker & Waichman, LLP is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide. The firm has offices in New York and New Jersey. Parker & Waichman, LLP has assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for injuries resulting from defective medications and medical devices. For more information on Parker & Waichman, LLP please visit: (http://www.yourlawyer.com) or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).