Asia fears spread of fungal corneal cases

Concern has spread across Asia after a swift rise in the incidence of contact lens-related fungal corneal infections in Singapore.

Lens wearers in Singapore have been advised not to use Bausch & Lomb's ReNu after the multipurpose solution was potentially linked to several cases of fungal corneal infection.

The state's Ministry of Health alerted the public last Friday (February 17) that 18 of 22 patients presenting with Fusarium fungal corneal infections had used a ReNu product.

This week that figure had risen to 39 reported cases, with 34 patients saying they had used the B&L product. Three patients have undergone urgent corneal transplantation.

Worried Asian health officials are watching for any similar cases in their countries.

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) urged wearers to clean and disinfect contact lenses properly, and a spokesman said the number of fungal keratitis cases had remained stable for the last six months.

'CHP investigations last year revealed that some local fungal keratitis patients had also recalled using the B&L contact lens solution,' he said.

'CHP has earlier requested B&L manufacturer to examine its product and the company determined that the incident was not attributable to the product. Sterility tests performed by the CHP for samples of the products bought from local market were also negative for fungal infections.'

In response to the rise in cases in Singapore, the CHP has contacted B&L to obtain more up-to-date information and investigate further about a possible relationship between its product and fungal keratitis cases.

As to the situation in Singapore, a B&L spokeswoman said the company was 'confident that a thorough and scientific investigation will clear our product of any involvement', but as a precaution the company had voluntarily suspended sales of the product.

She added that there was 'absolutely no scientific evidence that ReNu brand solution in any way caused or is related to the outbreak'.
The company said preliminary tests on samples in the US factory that supplies Singapore were found to be safe, but added that it could take three weeks to complete testing.

As Optician went to press, a report from Brunei stated that practitioners were removing ReNu from shelves, and the country's ministry of
health said it was monitoring the situation.