NEW YORK, April 27, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Parker & Waichman, LLP (http://www.yourlawyer.com) announced that it has filed suit on behalf of a woman 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 (Docket No. 06 cv 1858). For more information on ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) please visit http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/renu_contact_solution or http://www.renulawsuit.com.
On April 13, 2006, Bausch & Lomb, Inc. advised consumers to switch to another lens care solution and asked all retailers to remove ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm) from their shelves. This action came after the FDA and the CDC issued public health warnings on April 10, 2006, concerning serious fungal infections associated with contact lens solution use. The CDC stated that it had interviewed 30 patients suspected of having fungal keratitis. Of those 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.
In this case, the injured woman was diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis in her left eye after using ReNu with MoistureLoc(tm). As a result of this serious infection, vision in her left eye is now significantly impaired. Several invasive procedures may be necessary to fully remove the infection from the eye, including the possibility of a corneal transplant. Parker & Waichman, LLP has been retained by numerous individuals diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis who underwent corneal transplants as a result of damage to their corneas caused by the infection.
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.
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