NEW YORK, April 18, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Parker & Waichman, LLP (http://www.yourlawyer.com) announced that it has filed a class action lawsuit against Bausch & Lomb, Inc. (NYSE:BOL) on behalf of all users of ReNu with MoistureLoc Solution. Last week, the CDC and FDA warned that ReNu with MoistureLoc may be linked to serious fungal infections. The suit seeks damages against Bausch & Lomb, Inc. to cover medical screening and medical monitoring expenses for all class members. The suit was filed yesterday in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. For more information on this suit please visit http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/renu_contact_solution and http://www.renulawsuit.com.
On April 10, 2006 the FDA and the CDC issued public health warnings concerning serious fungal infections associated with contact lens use, and stated that Bausch and Lomb agreed to stop shipping the ReNu MoistureLoc Solution. The government warnings came after the CDC interviewed 26 patients suspected of fusarium keratitis infections that all used Bausch & Lomb ReNu with MoistureLoc in the month prior to infection. 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 shelves.
Fungal 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. Fungal keratitis is a condition more prevalent in warm climate. First-line treatment includes topical and oral antifungal medications; patients who do not respond to medical treatment usually require surgical intervention, including corneal transplantation. These infections are not transmitted from person to person.
Separately, Parker & Waichman, LLP announced last week that it has been retained by a 53-year-old man who was diagnosed with fusarium keratitis after using ReNu with MoistureLoc Solution. Due to the infection, the victim underwent numerous lengthy and invasive surgeries including: cornea transplant, lensectomy, capsulectomy, removal of iris, removal of vitreous fluid and the removal of the fungal infection. The victim is left with only 15% vision in his left eye and is currently awaiting FDA approval for an iris transplant. Parker & Waichman, LLP intends to file suit on his behalf.
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).
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca.