Bausch & Lomb asked US retailers to remove ReNu with MoistureLoc from their shelves temporarily, and recommended that consumers switch to another lens care solution for the time being, until the investigation of reports of fungal keratitis infections among contact lens wearers in the United States is concluded.
The company initiated the voluntary market withdrawal in order to eliminate any confusion among contact lens wearers about what to do while the investigation is ongoing. The company's action does not apply to other Bausch & Lomb products or to ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured at factories outside the United States, the company stated in a release.
The company is placing ads in USA and regional newspapers on April 14 and 16 featuring an open letter to consumers from Bausch & Lomb Chairman and CEO Ron Zarrella explaining the situation and providing guidance on alternatives.
"For more than 150 years, Bausch & Lomb's mission has been to enhance your vision," says Zarrella in his letter. "We find ourselves in a position where the safety of one of our products, ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured at our United States plant, is in question. We've done a series of exhaustive tests on the product, and a thorough inspection of the plant, and nothing has yet been found to show that ReNu with MoistureLoc contributed to these infections in any way. However, in the cases of infections reviewed to date, the majority of patients reported using ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured at our US factory," Zarrella added.
Bausch & Lomb continues to collaborate with the US Food and Drug Administration, the Centres for Disease control and Prevention, major eye centres and health authorities in a comprehensive investigation to identify the cause of the reported infections.
"Bausch & Lomb's first priority is the health and safety of consumers. If there is a problem with our product, we'll find it and we'll fix it. If there's not, when we come back you'll be able to know with absolute certainty that we've taken every possible step to ensure your safety," said Zarrella in his letter.