On May 25, 2007, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a health advisory identifying a link between Advanced Medical Optics’ (AMO) Complete MoisturePlus Multi-Purpose Solution and a rare eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).

The CDC received 138 cases of AK in 35 states and Puerto Rico; 39 of the patients in the reported cases wore soft contact lenses. Twenty-one of the soft contact lens wearers used AMO’s recalled solution in the month prior to the infection.

“There is no evidence to suggest that today’s voluntary recall is related to a product contamination issue and this does not impact any of AMO’s other contact lens care products,” a company statement said.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AMO recalled contact lens solution in November 2006 after some lots in Japan were found to have bacterial contamination.

Researchers do not believe the infection originates in manufacturing of the product, but rather the recalled contact lens solution is not protecting people from the infection. The amoeba causing the infection is naturally present in soil and water, and can manifest itself in consumers’ eyes through showering or swimming.

Symptoms of AK are:

• Redness
• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Excessive tearing

AMO believes that improper handling of contact lenses is responsible for the eye infections.

“It’s not a manufacturing problem or a contamination issue,” said James Mazzo, president and chief executive officer of AMO. He added that AK infection affects people who improperly handle contact lenses by disinfecting them with water or wearing them while swimming or showering.

Consumers who wear soft contact lenses and use the recalled solution should immediately stop using the product and throw the product away, along with the current lens storage container and current pair of soft contact lenses.

Source: “US officials warn about brand of contact lens solution, linking it to rare eye infection,” International Herald Tribune, May 25, 2007; Ryan Finn, “Local contact lens solution tied to eye disease,” Orange County Register, May 25, 2007; Daniel Yee, “AMO says recall not manufacturing issue,” Forbes.com, May 29, 2007; Center for Disease Control and Prevention Health Advisory, “Early report of serious eye infections associated with soft contact lens solution,” May 25, 2007.