Despite the Bausch & Lomb's decision to withdraw from the global markets the ReNU contact lens cleaning solution Moisture Loc, the product is still available at numerous retail outlets in Karnataka.
Most of the opticians and retail chemists stocking the product are totally unaware about the withdrawal or the US FDA ban or its harmful effects. Bausch & Lomb India Ltd., also had claimed to withdraw the product from the market on 19th May, a few days after the parent company announced to withdraw the solution worldwide.
The State drugs control department officials are surprised to hear about the ban of the product. They stated that there was no official communication from the Drugs Control General of India. "Only if the DCGI issued a notice, the state drugs controller can take any action to enforce it," they said. A section of opticians in the city who were aware of the ban continued to stock it as they received no official order against stocking and sale.
The product's serious adverse reactions were brought to notice by the Ministry of Health Singapore. The use of the solution is causing an alarming increase in fungal infections, a condition which leads to eye threatening condition Keratitis and even permanent blindness if not attended properly.
In Singapore, the Ministry of Health has already issued a letter for general awareness as a leading hospital in that country reported 22 patients having fungal infection after using ReNu contact lens cleaning solution manufactured by Bausch & Lomb.
Bausch & Lomb has decided to voluntarily suspend the sale of ReNu multi-purpose solution in the India market a few days ago. ReNu Solution is freely available in the country as it is an OTC product and doctors & eye care practitioners are now evaluating the possibility of the similar infection chances amongst Indian users.
A section of ophthalmologists said there were no complaints about the product but if US FDA had banned they would not prescribe it for use. They pointed out that since the product was from a leading global ophthalmology major, the quality of content could in no way be a suspect because of sterile manufacturing norms adhered to by multinational companies. Another observation made by them was that users of contact lens solutions were not always maintaining high hygiene and handling of lens and solutions which could have lead to infections.
The Indian market has contact lens solutions from Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO), global leader in ophthalmic, Alcon Allergan and Blairex Sterile Hard Contact Lens Cleaner CIBA Vision Daily Soft Contact Lens Cleaner. But Bausch & Lomb's ReNu had a leadership status.