Eye Fungus Blurring More Vision
Three more cases of a dangerous fungal eye infection have been confirmed in Tennessee, and three others are under investigation
Apr 21, 2006 Doctors recommended last Thursday that people who wear soft contact lenses stop using Renu lens disinfectant with "moisture loc."The state health department says six of seven confirmed cases in the state were contact lens wearers who used Bausch and Lomb ReNu with Moisture Loc solution.
Federal health authorities are looking into more than 100 cases of the infection nationwide. If untreatedthe fungus can lead to temporary blindness.
The company has stopped shipping the product to U.S. retailers, but the contact lenses disinfectant is still on the shelves in many stores.
Walmart is the only major retailer to stop selling it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a possible link between the product and dangerous eye infections.
Several cases were referred to doctors at the Cornea Consultants of Nashville.
Half of those cases resulted in cornea transplants.
Doctors said there are specific symptoms you should look for.
“One, a sudden change in your vision, a sudden pain, redness of the eye or if they actually can look in the mirror and see a little white spot on the cornea,” Dr. Ira Shivitz, with the Cornea Consultants of Nashville, said.
An infection usually looks like a white spot on the clear coating over the dark part of your eye.
Doctors said it's caused by a rare fungus, which is very difficult to treat.
In fact, the treatment involves administering an antibiotic every hour.
Ophthalmologists said they've been getting a lot of calls about the Bausch and Lomb product, so they recommend people stop using it.