Law firm circles over US contact lens firm in blindness scare

AFP, April, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — US contact lens maker Bausch and Lomb Inc. faced the prospect of a class-action lawsuit after withdrawing a cleaning solution that is blamed for a spate of serious eye infections.

Parker and Waichman, a high-profile New York law firm that has successfully sued several drug companies, said it had been retained by a 53-year-old man who claims to have suffered serious damage to his sight.

The law firm has set up a website, www.renulawsuit.com, inviting others to report any infections they have suffered after using the Bausch solution -- ReNu with MoistureLoc -- with a view to suing the company.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 109 cases of the suspected infection, fungal keratitis, among wearers of soft contact lenses in 17 different states.

Fungal keratitis is a painful inflammation of the cornea that can lead to blindness. ...