The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a Medical Device Alert on the voluntary recall by Advanced Medical Optics of their Complete MoisturePLUS Multi Purpose contact lens solution.

The company initiated an immediate recall following information from the US Centre of Disease Control and Prevention who identified a link between the solution and a serious eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.  

Acanthamoeba keratitis
Acanthanmoeba keratitis is a water-bourne organism which can contribute to serious corneal infections.  Symptoms include eye pain, eye redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and the sensation of something in the eye.  It is a difficult infection to diagnose as its symptoms are similar to more common eye infections, but Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause severe pain and possible vision loss.   The company has recommended that any patients who have any of these symptoms should consult their eye care professional.

Advice to Healthcare Professionals
Ophthalmologists, pharmacists, opticians and optometrists have been advised to stop supplying the contact lens solution and to report any cases to the MHRA.  They will be advising patients of soft contact lenses to use an alternative product, discard current lens storage containers and to stop using their current pair of contact lenses.

Gene Matthews, a senior solicitor  specializing  in defective products cases at Leigh Day & Co commented:

"We have been contacted by a number of individuals who seem to have been affected by this problem.  Keratitsis can lead to devastating consequences for individuals, in the most extreme cases the loss of an eye.  I hope that the company, Advanced Medical Optics, adopts the same sensible approach it took when voluntarily recalling this product from the shelves and will agree to compensate injured individuals quickly, allowing those injured to move on with their lives"  

If you think you or a member of your family may have developed a serious eye infection after using Complete MoisturePLUS Multi Purpose contact lens solution, please contact specialist product liability solicitor, Gene Matthews for a free consultation on 020 7650 1236.