& Waichman, LLP Announces It Has Filed Suit

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Source: & Waichman Attorneys at Law

& Waichman, LLP Announces It Has Filed Suit on Behalf of Man

Diagnosed With Fusarium Keratitis in Left Eye After Using ReNu With

MoistureLoc Contact Lens Solution -- BOL

http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/news.html?d=99689

Victim Underwent Cornea Transplant, Lensectomy, Capsulectomy, Iris

Removal and Multiple Flush-Out Surgeries on Left Eye, Awaits FDA

Approval for Iris Transplant

NEW YORK, May 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- & Waichman, LLP

(http://www.yourlawyer.com) announces that it has filed a suit

against Bausch & Lomb, Inc. (NYSE:BOL) on behalf of a 53-year-old

man who was diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis in his left eye after

using ReNu with MoistureLoc. As a result of the infection, the

injured man underwent a corneal transplant after several invasive

surgical procedures to remove the infection failed. He is currently

awaiting FDA approval for an iris transplant. The suit was filed

yesterday in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Onondaga

County. For more information on ReNu with MoistureLoc please visit

http://www.renulawsuit.com and

http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/renu_contact_solution.

On April 10, 2006 the FDA and the CDC issued public health warnings

concerning serious fungal infections associated with contact lens

solution use. The CDC stated that it had interviewed 30 patients

suspected of having fungal keratitis. Of these 30 patients, 28 wore

soft contact lenses and 26 used a Bausch & Lomb ReNu contact lens

solution in the month prior to the fungal infection diagnosis. On

April 13, 2006 Bausch & Lomb, Inc. recommended that consumers switch

to another lens care solution and asked all retailers to remove U.S.-

manufactured ReNu with MoistureLoc from their shelves. On May 2,

2006 the CDC announced that the number of confirmed fungal

infections rose to 88 cases. Just three days later, on May 5, 2006,

the CDC revised the number of confirmed cases to 102. On May 12,

2006 the CDC made another upward revision in the number of confirmed

fungal eye infections to 122 cases.

On May 15, 2006 the FDA issued a press release stating: " Based on

this scientific and epidemiological data suggesting that ReNu with

MoistureLoc may increase susceptibility to Fusarium, Bausch & Lomb

has decided to permanently remove the ReNu with MoistureLoc product

worldwide. " The recall followed Bausch & Lomb's conclusion that the

product's formula may increase the risk of fungal eye infections in

certain situations. Bausch & Lomb, Inc. and the FDA both

acknowledged there is a problem in the chemical properties of ReNu

with MoistureLoc after testing confirmed that the solution allows a

polymer film to form around the Fusarium fungus, preventing the

disinfectant in the product from killing the fungus.

The injured party, who resides in upstate New York, was diagnosed

with a fungal infection in his left eye in October 2005, and was

referred to a cornea specialist at Columbia Presbyterian in New York

City. The specialist performed a corneal confocal microscope exam

and several biopsies, which confirmed the diagnosis of Fusarium

keratitis. The specialist notified the plaintiff that a cornea

transplant would be necessary. Because the transplant procedure

could not be performed until the infection was under control, the

victim was prescribed voriconazole, a potent anti-fungal medication,

which had to be administered approximately every 2 hours, 24 hours

each day, over the course of several months. After the infection

appeared to be under control, the cornea transplant procedure was

performed. During the cornea transplant surgery, additional signs of

the fungal infection were discovered. This later led to

approximately 5 flush-out surgeries, which involved accessing the

back of the left eye through an incision in order to remove

additional evidence of the Fusarium fungal infection. The infection

returned following the flush-out surgeries, requiring the victim to

undergo a lengthy and invasive surgery with the following procedures

performed on his left eye: lensectomy, capsulectomy, removal of the

iris, removal of vitreous fluid, and removal of the fungal

infection. The victim is left with only 15% vision in his left eye

and is currently awaiting FDA approval for an iris transplant.

Fungal keratitis is a severe infection of the cornea. Risk factors

for infection usually include trauma (generally with plant

material), chronic ocular surface diseases, immunodeficiencies, and,

rarely, contact lens use. An estimated 30 million persons in the

United States wear soft contact lenses; the annual incidence of

microbial keratitis is estimated to be 4 -- 21 per 10,000 soft

contact lens users. Fungal keratitis is a condition more prevalent

in warm climates. First-line treatment includes topical and oral

antifungal medications. Patients who do not respond to medical

treatment usually require surgical intervention, including corneal

transplantation. These infections are not transmitted from person to

person.

About & Waichman, LLP

& Waichman, LLP is a leading products liability and personal

injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide. The firm has

offices in New York and New Jersey. & Waichman, LLP has

assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for

injuries resulting from defective medications and medical devices.

& Waichman, LLP was the first law firm nationwide to file a

class action on behalf of victims of ReNu with MoistureLoc. The

class action seeks, among other remedies, a medical monitoring fund

to enable consumers to obtain medical screening and treatment

services. In addition to ReNu with MoistureLoc, & Waichman,

LLP is currently representing victims of Zyprexa, Ortho Evra Patch,

Ketek, Tequin, Guidant Defibrillators, Mirapex and other defective

medications and medical devices. For more information on &

Waichman, LLP please visit: http://www.yourlawyer.com or call (800)

LAW-INFO ((800) 529-4636).

More information on this and other class actions can be found on the

Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca

CONTACT: & Waichman, LLP

Mark, Esq.

H. Muhlstock, Esq.

1-800-LAW-INFO

1-800-529-4636 -- toll-free

info@...

http://www.yourlawyer.com

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Keywords: CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS