In August this year Cooper Vision issued a voluntary recall for a limited lot of contact lenses under its brand name Avaira Toric. According to their website announcement :

“…a small number of unexpected wearer reports of hazy vision and discomfort. The wearer symptoms were temporary in many cases.”

Unfortunately for Cooper Vision this statement doesn’t seem to summarize the entire facts of the matter, and with increasing numbers of users now reporting eye problems from Avaira Toric, Federal Health Officials are now considering the need to issue an official public warning about the recalled lenses.

The lenses which are manufactured by Cooper Vision Inc. and sold nationwide at outlets such as Costco, WalMart and LensCrafters have led to concerns ranging from blurry vision, right through to terrible pain that prompted some patients to rush to emergency rooms. So far more than 10 people have come forwards to report their concern and their pain !

One concerned parent from Virginia said his 15-year-old daughter was in so much pain after wearing her Avaira Torics”from a newly opened box he purchased at Wal-Mart”she was rushed to the hospital.

” I noticed what first looked like a torn piece of contact on her eye…. ”

The girl was diagnosed with a severe corneal tear and was treated with pain and antibiotic medications; her parents only learned of the recall after the girl suffered eye injury.

According to an FDA spokeswoman,

“We are requesting that the firm issue a broader statement to ensure that users are aware of the recall.”

CooperVision officials claim they have that the company “has fully cooperated with the FDA and continues to closely monitor the situation and seek advice from FDA during this process.”

Critics say that CooperVision has downplayed the recall of hundreds of lots of lenses in the United States, in what could cause harm to users of the lenses, despite the fact that a larger recall is in place which includes Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain and Italy. The company says that a residue was left on the lenses during the manufacturing process, but they have not been more specific about the problem.

Written By Rupert Shepherd