B&L offers 2-for-1 solution exchange

Bausch & Lomb is offering UK practitioners two bottles of Renu Multi-Purpose solution for every returned bottle of Renu MoistureLoc following its decision to permanently withdraw the MoistureLoc product worldwide.

Professionals have been advised to remove Renu MoistureLoc from their shelves in response to its widely suggested link to the rare eye infection Fusarium keratitis, as reported in Optician over the last two months.

In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) issued special advice on the withdrawal this week. The Agency told the public that users should dispose of any remaining stocks of the solution, and to exchange the empty bottle for an alternative lens care solution at the point of sale. The MHRA said this was a precautionary measure, as there have been no reports of Fusarium eye infection in the UK, and there has not been an unusual incidence of Fusarium cases referred to the UK Health Protection Agency.

Announcing the permanent withdrawal on May 15, B&L chairman and CEO Ronald L Zarella said: 'Bausch & Lomb's top priority is the safety of our customers and we want them to have complete confidence in our products.'

The reported link between MoistureLoc and the eye infection in Hong Kong, Singapore and the US has prompted a large-scale investigation.

'The investigations lead us to conclude that some aspect of the MoistureLoc formula may be increasing the relative link of Fusarium infection in unusual circumstances. We are continuing to investigate this link but in the meantime we are discontinuing the formula,' said Zarella.