Lens solution cases rise
CHICAGO - The Wall Street Journal disclosed the number of serious eye infections linked to Bausch & Lomb Inc.'s ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution rose sharply, while those linked to the more popular ReNU MultiPlus brand grew more modestly, the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show. Of the 98 confirmed Fusarium keratitis cases for which the CDC has complete data, 93 people wore contact lenses and 59 used MoistureLoc, an increase of 27 cases from a week ago. Bausch has pulled MoistureLoc from circulation amid concerns about the high rate of infection links. Those using MultiPlus, a market leader that remains on retailers' shelves, has increased by four to 19, the CDC said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended against MoistureLoc but hasn't made similar statements regarding other lens solutions. In response to the latest CDC figures, FDA spokeswoman Kristen Neese said FDA’s advice to consumers remains unchanged. Both the CDC and FDA noted the number of overall MultiPlus users with infections is small versus the product's 11 million customers. MoistureLoc, in contrast, has about 2.3 million users.