ReNu
Encyclopedia
ReNu is a brand of soft contact lens
care products produced by Bausch & Lomb
. It was by far the most popular brand of lens solutions until 2006. The original products are still availabe as renu fresh (formerly ReNu MultiPlus) and renu sensitive (formerly ReNu Multi-Purpose). The former contains a patented ingredient called hydranate that can eliminate the need for a separate enzymatic cleaner.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
suggested an increased incidence of fungal keratitis
in people using Bausch & Lomb products. Bausch & Lomb subsequently suspended, then recalled, shipments of one particular product, ReNu with MoistureLoc.
On March 3, 2006, New Jersey ophthalmologist Dr. David S. Chu contacted Bausch & Lomb
to report that three of his patients had contracted a fungal infection called Fusarium keratitis; all three of these patients were contact lens wearers who used Bausch & Lomb's Renu with MoistureLoc. Subsequently, he also reported his findings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
on March 8, 2006.
On April 10, 2006, the CDC announced that it was investigating 109 patients in the United States suspected to have Fusarium
keratitis. They reported that they had complete data available for 30 patients in this group, the earliest onset of infection of which was June 15, 2005.
By November 2005, Hong Kong health officials told Bausch & Lomb about a significant increase in hospital admissions due to contact lens
related keratitis from June to September 2005 http://www.monheit.com/ReNu/timeline.asp.
On April 11, 2006, Bausch & Lomb stopped shipments of its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution from its Greenville, South Carolina
, plant after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found what appeared to be a high correlation between use of the product and cases of suspected fungal keratitis http://www.bausch.com/us/vision/about/news/pressrelease.jsp?pressRelease=2006_4_10_reports.html. Similar claims had already been made against the product in Hong Kong
and Singapore
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=11717975&src=rss/healthNews. The news about the U.S. suspension led to a 14.6% drop in the company's stock price—a drop of $8.41, to $49.03—the largest the company experienced in 5½ years http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nN11187878&imageid=top-news-view-2006-03-08-201458-eRPPISA%5B24%5D.jpg&cap=A%20trader%20wipes%20his%20face%20as%20he%20works%20the%20floor%20of%20the%20New%20York%20Stock%20Exchange%20before%20opening%20bell%20in%20New%20York%20March%208,%202006.%20The%20New%20York%20Stock%20Exchange%20debuted%20on%20its%20own%20stage%20on%20Wednesday%20as%20shares%20of%20holding%20company%20parent,%20NYSE%20Group%20Inc.%20began%20trading%20following%20its%20acquisition%20of%20Archipelago%20Holdings%20Inc..%20The%20deal%20marked%20the%20end%20of%20213%20years%20as%20a%20member-owned%20institution.%20REUTERS/Keith%20Bedford].
OnApril 13, 2006, Bausch & Lomb announced that it is withdrawing the ReNu with MoistureLoc product world-wide and is recommending that consumers stop using ReNu with MoistureLoc immediately. The FDA supports this decision. The FDA, as well as the American Optometric Association
, also advise now that contact lenses be rubbed and rinsed even when a no-rub contact lens solution is used.
According to a preliminary report released by the FDA on May 16, 2006, Bausch & Lomb failed to notify the FDA that Singapore's Ministry of Health
reported 35 serious cases of Fusarium keratitis to Bausch & Lomb in February 2006.
The U.S. suspension does not include ReNu products without MoistureLoc.
Only supplies of ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured in the company's US plant are affected. European supplies are considered to be safe.
On March 7, 2007, Bausch & Lomb issued a voluntary recall on 1.5 million bottles of ReNu MultiPlus solution due to higher than normal amounts of iron in the batch.
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
care products produced by Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
. It was by far the most popular brand of lens solutions until 2006. The original products are still availabe as renu fresh (formerly ReNu MultiPlus) and renu sensitive (formerly ReNu Multi-Purpose). The former contains a patented ingredient called hydranate that can eliminate the need for a separate enzymatic cleaner.
ReNu with MoistureLoc
The brand made headlines in 2006 when a report from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
suggested an increased incidence of fungal keratitis
Fungal keratitis
A fungal keratitis is an 'inflammation of the eye's cornea' that results from infection by a fungal organism. Keratomycosis is the Greek terminology equivalent of fungal keratitis - it is the fungal infection of the cornea, the anterior part of the eye which covers the pupil...
in people using Bausch & Lomb products. Bausch & Lomb subsequently suspended, then recalled, shipments of one particular product, ReNu with MoistureLoc.
On March 3, 2006, New Jersey ophthalmologist Dr. David S. Chu contacted Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
to report that three of his patients had contracted a fungal infection called Fusarium keratitis; all three of these patients were contact lens wearers who used Bausch & Lomb's Renu with MoistureLoc. Subsequently, he also reported his findings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
on March 8, 2006.
On April 10, 2006, the CDC announced that it was investigating 109 patients in the United States suspected to have Fusarium
Fusarium
Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi widely distributed in soil and in association with plants. Most species are harmless saprobes, and are relatively abundant members of the soil microbial community. Some species produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect human and animal health...
keratitis. They reported that they had complete data available for 30 patients in this group, the earliest onset of infection of which was June 15, 2005.
By November 2005, Hong Kong health officials told Bausch & Lomb about a significant increase in hospital admissions due to contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
related keratitis from June to September 2005 http://www.monheit.com/ReNu/timeline.asp.
On April 11, 2006, Bausch & Lomb stopped shipments of its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution from its Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, plant after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found what appeared to be a high correlation between use of the product and cases of suspected fungal keratitis http://www.bausch.com/us/vision/about/news/pressrelease.jsp?pressRelease=2006_4_10_reports.html. Similar claims had already been made against the product in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=11717975&src=rss/healthNews. The news about the U.S. suspension led to a 14.6% drop in the company's stock price—a drop of $8.41, to $49.03—the largest the company experienced in 5½ years http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nN11187878&imageid=top-news-view-2006-03-08-201458-eRPPISA%5B24%5D.jpg&cap=A%20trader%20wipes%20his%20face%20as%20he%20works%20the%20floor%20of%20the%20New%20York%20Stock%20Exchange%20before%20opening%20bell%20in%20New%20York%20March%208,%202006.%20The%20New%20York%20Stock%20Exchange%20debuted%20on%20its%20own%20stage%20on%20Wednesday%20as%20shares%20of%20holding%20company%20parent,%20NYSE%20Group%20Inc.%20began%20trading%20following%20its%20acquisition%20of%20Archipelago%20Holdings%20Inc..%20The%20deal%20marked%20the%20end%20of%20213%20years%20as%20a%20member-owned%20institution.%20REUTERS/Keith%20Bedford].
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OnApril 13, 2006, Bausch & Lomb announced that it is withdrawing the ReNu with MoistureLoc product world-wide and is recommending that consumers stop using ReNu with MoistureLoc immediately. The FDA supports this decision. The FDA, as well as the American Optometric Association
American Optometric Association
The American Optometric Association represents optometrists nationally in the USA. It consists of State Optometric Associations, which are made up of local optometric societies.-AOA mission:...
, also advise now that contact lenses be rubbed and rinsed even when a no-rub contact lens solution is used.
According to a preliminary report released by the FDA on May 16, 2006, Bausch & Lomb failed to notify the FDA that Singapore's Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health (Singapore)
The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
reported 35 serious cases of Fusarium keratitis to Bausch & Lomb in February 2006.
The U.S. suspension does not include ReNu products without MoistureLoc.
Only supplies of ReNu with MoistureLoc manufactured in the company's US plant are affected. European supplies are considered to be safe.
On March 7, 2007, Bausch & Lomb issued a voluntary recall on 1.5 million bottles of ReNu MultiPlus solution due to higher than normal amounts of iron in the batch.