Weitz & Luxenberg Responds to JAMA Study on ReNu MoistureLoc

A US research report revealed that one-third of patients with a serious eye infection associated with the ReNu with MoistureLoc product had such severe infections that they had or will need a corneal transplant. Nationally-recognized mass torts and personal injury law firm Weitz & Luxenberg has spearheaded litigation related to the dangerous contact-lens solution, manufactured by Bausch & Lomb (NYSE: BOL), filing its first of several corneal transplant cases with the State Supreme Court of New York on May 5, 2006, court index # 106201/06.

Bausch & Lomb has made the argument that the outbreak of Fusarium keratitis, a rare but serious corneal infection, was largely caused by users of ReNu with MoistureLoc who failed to properly clean their lenses and regularly change the storage solution. The report, published in the Aug. 23/30 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, challenges this contention, finding that individual user practices were not relevant in the incidences of the fungal infection.

“Adding insult to injury is the recent campaign by Bausch & Lomb in print and television media, which focuses on improper use of the product, seemingly seeking to shift the blame and portray infected users as responsible,” says Paul J. Pennock, Director of Weitz & Luxenberg’s drug and medical device litigation unit. “The findings of this study put that theory to rest,” Pennock added.

The study, “Multistate Outbreak of Fusarium Keratitis Associated with use of Contact Lens Solution,” formally concludes that ReNu with MoistureLoc was responsible for the outbreak of potentially blinding fungal eye infections in the last year. The research was based on 164 confirmed cases of Fusarium keratitis in the U.S. from June 2005 to April 2006. Bausch & Lomb finally issued a world-wide recall of ReNu with MoistureLoc later in May 2006.

While comprehensive, the JAMA study, whose lead author is Dr. Douglas, C. Chang, is limited in scope by two major factors. First, it does not examine those users who were infected before June 2005 and after April 10, 2006. Second, it does not account for the users who were treated for eye-related medical issues but were not diagnosed as specifically being infected with the Fusarium fungus. To the latter point, fungus can be highly difficult to diagnose and treat.

Weitz & Luxenberg has been contacted by hundreds of contact lens wearers who claim that they have been harmed by using ReNu. The firm expects more people will come forward in the coming months as more injured patients are identified.

People who have been injured by ReNu with MoistureLoc can contact Weitz & Luxenberg. Interested parties should call the Client Relations Department at 1 (800) 476-6070