Fungal Eye Infections Associated With The Use Of Contact Lens Are Being Investigated. Two Missouri cases of an aggressive fungal eye infection associated with the use of contact lenses are under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released information indicating 122 confirmed cases of Fusarium keratitis, 15 possible cases and 60 cases that […]
Fungal Eye Infections Associated With The Use Of Contact Lens Are Being Investigated. Two Missouri cases of an aggressive fungal eye infection associated with the use of contact lenses are under investigation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released information indicating 122 confirmed cases of Fusarium keratitis, 15 possible cases and 60 cases that are still under investigation, including the two from Missouri. The eye infection is now in 33 states and may be affecting more than 200 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional data released by the center has also confirmed that five types of contact lens solution were used by people suffering from Fusarium keratitis.
“There are a lot of confused contact lens wearers out there, and we are aggressively reaching out to them,” Cory Ridenhour, executive director of the Missouri Optometric Association, said. “While we realize the importance of due diligence throughout this investigation process, we are hoping for a swift, definitive conclusion from federal health officials to ease patient concerns and minimize further risk.”
In efforts to minimize further risk, Bausch & Lomb asked retailers to remove its ReNu with MoistureLoc brand contact lens solution in Missouri, as well as the rest of the country. However, 28 patients who have contracted the infection have told investigators they used ReNu MultiPlus or an unspecified ReNu solution.
Dr. David Falkenhain, O.D., of Falkenhain Eye Group in Rolla, said the Bausch & Lomb contact solution isn’t the only one that may be linked to the eye infection, but it is the one the most Fusarium keratitis cases have been associated with.
“We still don’t know what brought on the Fusarium keratitis cases, but Bausch & Lomb did take their MoistureLoc brand off the market since that was the one that seemed to have the most Fusarium keratitis cases associated with it.”
Health authorities in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are investigating similar cases. Investigators in Singapore have also found a strong association between the eye infections and the use of Bausch & Lomb solutions.
Fusarium keratitis is similar to Pink Eye infections, according to Falkenhain.
“It’s actually a form of Pink Eye,” he said. “It’s painful, so you’ll know there’s something wrong if you have it.”
Falkenhain said Fusarium keratitis is treatable if it’s diagnosed, but could cause serious problems if it goes untreated.
“If it goes untreated it could cause some serious eye problems, but otherwise there are topical eye drops to control it,” he said.
Falkenhain, along with other optometry doctors in Missouri, want to remind people that only slightly more than 200 cases of the eye infection have been reported compared to the more than 30 million Americans who wear contact lenses.
“There was actually only a very small number of cases,” Falkenhain said.
Even still, Missouri optomtery doctors are educating patients about the difference among contact lens care solutions. Most solutions are approved for use without rubbing when disinfected, according to the Missouri Optometric Association. However, optometrists are recommending that all patients rub and then rinse their lenses according to package instructions for additional safety. Regardless of which cleaning or disinfecting solution consumers use, contact lens wearers should take extra precautions with lens hygiene habits to help lower their chances of infection.
To guard against infection, Falkenhain recommends contact wearers always wash their hands before handling contact lenses. Replacing contact cases every six months is also important. Although many of the newer contracts are OK to sleep in, Falkenhain recommends people don’t sleep in their contacts.
“Washing your hands, replacing the contact case and not sleeping in your contacts are all important,” he said. “The main thing is to be clean about it. If you do notice any problems, get your contacts out and get to an eye doctor.”
Although Falkenhain hasn’t seen any cases of Fusarium keratitis in his practice, he said he’ll be watching for it just in case.
“I’ve been watching for it, but luckily I haven’t seen any cases,” he said. “And I’ve also pulled the MoistureLoc off my shelves, so that’s about all I can do.”
When wearing or cleaning contacts:
Doctors remind patients to be aware of the signs of infection and urge anyone who experiences the following symptoms to contact their optometrist immediately:
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