If you used ReNu MoistureLoc Contact Solution and had a severe fungal eye infection and/or loss of vision, you may qualify for monetary damages. Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. is the personal injury law firm that provides the personal service and the results that you deserve. For more than 30 years, we have been serving clients throughout Kentucy, West Virginia and many other states, who have suffered injuries as the result of another's negligence.

Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued public health alerts due to a recent increase in the number of reports in the U.S. of a rare but serious fungal infection of the eye in soft contact lens wearers. The infection, a fungal keratitis caused by the fungus Fusarium, may cause vision loss severe enough to require corneal transplants in affected patients.

The CDC has received reports of 109 cases of suspected fungal keratitis in 17 different states. The majority of these case patients have yet to be interviewed, but complete data was available for 30 of the case patients as of April 10 – the day Bausch & Lomb announced suspension of shipments of its contact solution ReNu with MoistureLoc.

Fusarium keratitis is a severe infection of the cornea. Risk factors for infection usually include trauma (generally with plant material), chronic ocular surface diseases, immunodeficiencies, and, rarely, contact lens use. An estimated 30 million persons in the United States wear soft contact lenses; the annual incidence of microbial keratitis is estimated to be 4-21 per 10,000 soft contact lens users. Fusarium keratitis is a condition more prevalent in warm climates. First-line treatment includes topical and oral antifungal medications; patients who do not respond to these treatments usually require surgical intervention, including corneal transplantation. These fungal infections are not transmitted from person to person.

While the CDC and FDA investigations are still ongoing, clusters of the disease were reported among contact lens wearers in Asia beginning in February 2006 that were also traced to Bausch & Lomb ReNu MoistureLoc contact lens solution. Bausch & Lomb is voluntarily suspending shipment of the ReNu MoistureLoc product while the investigation continues into the cause of these infections. Soft contact lens users who have existing supplies of ReNu MoistureLoc should use the product with caution and report any signs and symptoms of eye infection to their doctors.

Many stores, such as Walgreen’s, CVS and Wal-mart are pulling ReNu with MoistureLoc Solution from shelves because of the contamination risk. Bausch & Lomb CEO Ron Zarrella explained in a letter on the company's website that the solution hasn't been proven to cause the infection – it is only associated with it: "When reports of a rare eye infection, seeming associated with our product, began to surface, we began a series of exhaustive tests on our products," Zarrella stated. "Nothing has yet been found to show that ReNu with MoistureLoc contributed to these infections in any way."

If you or a loved one has experienced a serious side effect while using the Bausch & Lomb ReNu MoistureLoc contact lens solution or developed fungal keratitis; we would like to speak with you. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and we can help.

Remember, the law firm you choose does make a difference. The law firm of Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., works for injured people and their families. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case, and we will always give you our honest opinion about your case in light of the facts, case law, and our experience with similar product defect cases. Call us today at (800) 337-4002, or use our online contact form.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on ReNu Moisture Loc Contact Solutions.