Two couples from Nashville, TN have filed separate personal injury lawsuits against Bausch & Lomb alleging its ReNu with MoistureLoc Multi-Purpose Solution product led to their contraction of the serious bacterial eye fungus Fusarium keratitis. ReNu with MoistureLoc was recalled in May 2006 after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed over 180 cases of Fusarium keratitis across the U.S. linked to contact lens solutions.

John Richardson of Clarksville, TN, was diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis, a serious infection of the cornea, in February 2006. Fusarium, a bacterium normally found in soil, water and other organic matter, is rarely known to invade the eye but when it does it can cause permanent damage. Fusarium bacteria actually “invades the cornea,” according to Dr. Jeffrey Sonsino, an optometrist at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute. “One of the reasons it is so serious is because it is very difficult to treat.” Without lengthy treatment, the infection can permanently scar the cornea, leading to vision loss or even blindness.

Richardson was forced to undergo corneal transplant surgery in an attempt to save his eye and “restore some useful vision,” according to his personal injury lawsuit. He suffered permanent vision loss as a result of his exposure to Fusarium keratitis.

Kathy Binkley of Nashville, TN, 44, contracted Fusarium in the form of a “Fusarium corneal ulcer” in November 2005 and underwent a corneal transplant two months later. Since her injury she has suffered decreased, blurred and distorted vision, eye pain, headaches, and sensitivity to light, and may face permanent blindness.

Bausch & Lomb may be facing as many as 700 personal injury lawsuits related to Fusarium keratitis infections and other injuries related to ReNu with MoistureLoc. The CDC called ReNu with MoistureLoc “the potential root cause” of an outbreak of infections worldwide.

“It’s pretty conclusive that this outbreak was due to this product,” Dr. Sonsino said.

Sources: Jared Allen, “Bausch & Lomb eye infections, lawsuits, surface in Nashville,” Nashville City Paper, February 13, 2007; Ben Dobbin, “Bausch & Lomb sees 2006 revenue falling below previous guidance on slow recovery,” January 31, 2007, accessed February 13, 2007.