Practitioners will no doubt be aware of the horrific story in the Sun of Jacqueline Stone who lost an eye following contact lens wear.
It is aways going to be difficult to prove decisively what the cause of the infection was, indeed all reports point out that she used the lenses in a proper way. However Stone is planning to sue the provider of the contact lenses and the manufacturer plus two hospitals.
The obvious questions to be asked in court are how she came by the lenses, proof that the lenses were sterile, the assessment of her condition made in the hospitals involed and the advice given.
There is no mention of an optician or optometrist in the firing line because Stone bought the lenses online.
The saga has already elicited the response below from the College of Optometrists.
While it will be of no comfort to the unfortunate Mrs Stone perhaps a better response from the College would have been to warn the public about the need for proper professional advice when wearing CLs. Also, when wearing contact lenses, the benefit of having a close relationship with a professional who can be visited at short notice in the event of a problem.
Advice to eye care professionals is all well and good but it will not necessarily reach those who buy their lenses online when all to often the proof of prescription is simply a checkbox.
The College wrote:
This morning's Sun newspaper carries an article about a woman who lost an eye after using a daily disposable contact lens which was infected with the fungus fusarium.
Patients may ask you about this story. You can read it online at: www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4773132/mum-claims-contact-lens-fungus-ate-away-her-eye.html.
Apparently the Alcon EyeCare UK lenses were bought online, and she had always taken the correct contact lens precautions.
The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers has sent comments to us - please see the column on the right.
While we can not comment on this individual case, modern contact lenses are generally very safe. Things are more likely to go wrong with contact lenses if patients do not take care, so you could reinforce safety messages to your patients. You can refer your patients to the College's website Lookafteryoureyes.org for more information about contact lenses.
There is also more information and advice at bcla.org.uk and aclm.org.uk