AMO Complete MoisturePlus Lens Cleaner: Still Harming Users
Updated August 2007: According to federal health authorities, more than one-fourth of consumers who suffered eye infections from AMO Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution required corneal transplants.
The recall of the contact lens solution came about because MoisturePlus did not protect soft lens contact users from a serious eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. The FDA update confirmed that the outbreak of eye infections only affected a small fraction of soft lens users, but the data shows that a higher proportion of those who used Moisture Plus became infected with AK.
A CDC study revealed that less than half of contact lens users were aware of the recall, and less than 27% of those who knew of the recall could identify the correct product. In the survey, of the 21 consumers who used MoisturePlus, 15 had not heard about the recall and were still using the product. Of the 21, 4 of the MoisturePlus users developed infections.
The CDC and the FDA have raised concerns that consumers and doctors have not been paying enough attention to this recall, which continues to put consumers at risk.
Advanced Medical Optics said that they think the company’s publicity has been “appropriate to ensure the effectiveness of the recall,” and they will continue to work with the CDC and the FDA to make sure the public is more aware of the recall.