Confederation allays chlorhexidine concerns

Practitioners have been reassured by the Optical Confederation that contact lens solutions containing chlorhexidine can continue to be used.

Last month the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued a Medical Device Alert (MDA/2012/075) giving examples of anaphylactic shock in response to the use of chlorhexidine skin wipes and other medical devices impregnated with the component.

The OC statement said: 'While chlorhexidine is used in some optical products including RGP contact lens solutions (such as Bausch+Lomb's Boston Advance Conditioning and Cleaning solution and Boston Simplus solution), the concentration in these products is much lower (0.003 per cent in Boston products) than the 2 per cent level used in skin wipes.' It said the degree of risk was offset by the efficacy of chlorhexidine as a preservative.