Patients Suffering from Vision Loss Due to Fusarium Keratitis

On August 15, IntraLase Corp. announced that patients requiring corneal transplant surgery resulting from the recent outbreak of fusarium keratitis eye infection caused by ReNu with MoistureLoc can take advantage of the benefits of corneal transplantation. Four of the top ophthalmic centers in the country will be providing the laser-enabled corneal transplant procedures. (Read more about free corneal transplant sugery.)

Posted by Michael Monheit at 05:12 AM | Permalink

One-day contact lenses are designed for active lifestyles. With no lens care needed, users do not need to worry about harmful solutions. One-day lens are also supposed to protect eyes from harmful UV rays. (The Star)

Posted by Michael Monheit at 05:11 AM | Permalink

As a result of ReNu litigation exposure and a huge loss in sales due to the problems with ReNu, the contact-lens provider Bausch & Lomb Inc. has delayed the filing of its Q2-2006 financial report. B&L expects the recall of a lens solution will lower its full-year results for last year.

Posted by Michael Monheit at 06:38 AM | Permalink

Bausch & Lomb Inc. revised its performance criteria in its 2006 incentive compensation plan to help motivate and retain key employees using sales and cash flow targets. The contact lens corporation said the move is designed to revitalize the company's performance after its permanent withdrawal of the ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution from markets in May 2006.

Bausch & Lomb Inc. revised its performance criteria in its 2006 incentive compensation plan to help motivate and retain key employees using sales and cash flow targets. The contact lens corporation said the move is designed to revitalize the company's performance after its permanent withdrawal of the ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution from markets in May 2006.

When the recall began Chief Executive Ronald Zarrela estimated that costs directly tied to the move could total between $50 million and $75 million. The company's shares, which traded at a 52-week high of $85.10 on July 29, 2005, lost more than half of their value by May 2006. On Monday, the shares closed at $47.30 each, down 53 cents.

Market Watch

Posted by Michael Monheit at 11:43 AM | Permalink

Fungal eye infections caused by ReNu with MoistureLoc spread the globe as China gets ready to defend patients. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-06/28/content_4761334.htm

Posted by Michael Monheit at 12:05 PM | Permalink

ReNu, a product by Bausch & Lomb, is responsible for rare eye infections known as fungal keratitis (Fusarium Keratitis). If untreated, these infections can cause blindess. Lawsuits for ReNu are being filed by a number of citizens of Asia who have suffered severe damage to their eyes as a result of using Bausch & Lomb's ReNu.

According to People's Daily Online nearly 80 Chinese citizens who claim they suffered eye infections caused by a contact lens solution made by Bausch & Lomb plan to sue the company in the United States. Significant issues in these cases will be jurisdictional as well as proving that there is no adequate remedy in Asia (China, or elsewhere).

According to the article: They believe they contracted fungal keratitis, which can lead to blindness, after using ReNu MoistureLoc Multi Purpose Solution. See: http://english.people.com.cn/200607/11/eng20060711_281830.html

Posted by Michael Monheit at 11:52 AM | Permalink

American law firms have announced that they have been retained by citizens of Asia who have suffered severe damage to their eyes as a result of using Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution. In February 2006, Bausch & Lomb ceased sales of all ReNu solutions in Singapore and Hong Kong after many users of ReNu with MoistureLoc were diagnosed with fusarium keratitis. http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/news.html?d=102549

Posted by Michael Monheit at 12:08 PM | Permalink

Lucky for ReNu users, a team of Singapore healthcare professionals were the first to alert the world on a link between a ReNu contact lens solution and a global spike in fungal corneal infections, according to the Singapore News.

In singapore, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: "Certainly when you decide to do something like this, you're taking on a very big multi-national corporation and as I said, they're armed with teams of (scientists and) lawyers. And if the advisory was pre-mature or without basis, or could not be proven, I'm quite sure there'll be a legal suit on our table.

"But more than legal suits, it's also our own reputation. In this instance, the reputation of SNEC and of course Ministry of Health and Singapore. So I'm quite glad. More importantly it ended up well."

All ReNu users owe thanks to these courageous doctors for stepping forward and alerting the world of this public health risk.

Posted by Michael Monheit at 12:22 PM | Permalink