The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting health professionals and patients that contact lens solution manufacturer Advanced Medical Optics Inc of Santa Ana, California, is voluntarily recalling its Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution because it has been linked to a rare and potentially blinding eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).
The news caused Advanced Medical Optics Inc shares to drop sharply earlier today.
The link between the solution and the parasitic infection was found by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following a lengthy investigation involving 22 opthalmology centres throughout the US. The investigation found a link between an increased incidence of AK among contact lens wearers and use of the Advanced Medical Optics Complete MoisturePlus (AMOCMP) multipurpose cleaning solution.
Soft contact lens wearers who use the product should stop doing so immediately and throw away any bottles whether opened or still sealed. They should also replace their lenses and storage containers, said the FDA alert.
Consumers should also talk to to their eyecare practitioner about alternative products and seek treatment immediately if they show symptoms of eye infection. Early diagnosis is important and the symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis are similar to those of less harmful and more common eye infections.
According to the FDA alert, symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis include: eye pain or redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, sensation of something in the eye or excessive tearing.
Acanthamoeba keratitis can result in loss of vision and some patients may need a corneal transplant.
AK primarily affects otherwise healthy people who wear soft contact lenses, and around 85 per cent of infections are in people who wear them; even if they scrupulously follow the recommended regime for contact lens hygiene. However there is an increased risk of getting AK if you don’t clean and disinfect your soft lenses properly (for instance by using tap water), or leave them in when you swim, use hot tubs or shower.
According to a CDC analysis, the incidence is around 1 to 2 cases of AK per million contact lens wearers.
But the multi-state investigation the CDC carried out into the increased incidence of AK cases revealed that the risk of getting AK was 7 times greater for soft contact lens wearers who used Advanced Medical Optics Complete MoisturePlus (AMOCMP) multipurpose cleaning solution compared with those who did not.
About 30 million Americans wear soft contact lenses.
AK is caused by a very common parasite, Acanthamoeba that thrives in watery environments. Hence it can be found in tap water, recreational water (eg swimming pools, hot tubs, whirlpools), soil, sewage, cooling towers, and heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The FDA said that all contact lens users should practise careful hygiene to minimize the risk of eye infection. They should always:
- Take contact lenses out before immersing in water, for instance before swimming, showering or bathing.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and dry them well before touching their contact lenses.
- Clean contact lenses according to the manufacturer’s or their eye care professional’s instructions.
- Use proper disinfectant to disinfect lenses; don’t use saline or rewetting drops to do this because they don’t kill bacteria.
- Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting product every time lenses are handled, cleaned and stored.
- Discard used solution. Never reuse it or top it up.
- Store lenses in the appropriate clean and disinfected case.
- Irrigate storage cases with sterile contact lens solution (don’t use tap water), and leave to dry open after each use to reduce the risk of water-loving bacteria taking up residence. They should be replaced every three months, at least.
- Replace contact lenses when their scheduled wear time is up.
- Have regular eye exams.
Dr Daniel Shultz, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said that:
“We believe the company acted responsibly in taking this voluntary action and support their decision to be proactive in the interest of public health.”
The FDA and CDC are working closely with the manufacturer to collect more information and will keep consumers updated he added.
If you are concerned that you have bought and/or used some of the affected product, you can phone the manufacturer on 1-888-899-9183.
Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today