CooperVision Widens Contact Lens Recall Notification

Avaira Toric contact lens recall on August 19 Yesterday, CooperVision Inc. reannounced its Avaira Toric contact lens recall, following criticism that its initial notification had downplayed the serious risks posed by the defective lenses. In a press release issued yesterday, CooperVision also acknowledge that some users of the contact lenses had suffered “severe pain” – a more serious symptom than the hazy vision and mild discomfort it reported in its original recall announcement.

When it first announced the Avaira Toric contact lens recall on August 19, CooperVision focused the notification on retailers, including Costco, Wal-Mart and LensCrafters, and eye care professionals who sold them. As a result, many consumers were not aware of the recall.

CooperVision handled the first recall announcement

Earlier this week, MSNBC reported that it had heard from more than a dozen people who suffered injuries that were far more serious than CooperVision had noted in its original recall notice. Injuries included torn corneas and corneal abrasions that required emergency care.

Because of the shoddy way CooperVision handled the first recall announcement, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) had threatened to issue its own public warning.  This seems to have pushed CooperVision to step up its notification efforts, thus the press release issued yesterday.

In that release, that some contact lens users experienced “severe eye pain,” and advises that “not everyone experiences the same symptoms.” It further recommended that affected users seek medical care.

The FDA is reviewing this latest notification attempt, but an agency spokesperson told MSNBC that it could still issue a separate public communication if concerns haven’t been resolved.

Action involves 8 million lenses

The CooperVision Avaira Toric contact lens recall included 600,000 lenses sold or issued as samples in the U.S. It was part of a larger international action that involved 8 million lenses.

According to the latest MSNBC reports, some reports from contact lens users have indicated problems could involve other CooperVision brands, but that hasn’t been confirmed

Contact lens users seeking more information on this recall can visit the CooperVision recall web page.  Information is also available at 1-855-526-6737).

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