One of the largest American manufacturers of contact lens cleaning solution, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) announced in May 2007 that it would voluntarily remove all bottles of its Complete Moisture Plus Contact Lens Solution from store shelves in what would amount to a massive contact lens solution recall. AMO decided to recall the unsafe contact lens solution after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported a number of cases of a rare but serious and potentially blinding eye disease associated with the contact lens solution. Users of the contact lens solution are advised to contact a doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms: eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, the feeling of something in the eye, or excessive tearing.



According to the CDC, the potentially blinding eye infection, Acanthamoeba Keratitis, has been soundly confirmed in at least 138 individuals since the outbreak began in January 2005. Of these 138, epidemiologists have been able to interview 46, 21 of whom claimed to have used the AMO Moisture Plus contact lens solution. The disease itself is a keratitis, or an inflammation of the cornea, caused by the presence of the Acanthamoeba parasite. The corneal eye infection is both difficult to treat and quite serious, in that the infection can be resistant to medication and may ultimately lead to a patient losing their sight. While the agency has been quick to point out the preliminary nature of the link between the corneal disease and the contact lens solution, AMO did not hesitate in instituting the contact lens solution recall, and has advised anyone using the unsafe lens solution to discard all bottles, as well as any lenses or lens cases that may have come in contact with the Moisture Plus lens solution.

The Moisture Plus recall is not the first recall conducted by AMO, as the company has had previous issues with contamination of its contact lens solution products. In November 2006, AMO instituted a lens solution recall of 2.9 million units of the same Moisture Plus contact lens solution, after contamination was detected within the production line at a Chinese factory. Although the recalls of the two lens solutions do not at this point appear related, these repeated concerns over contamination have lead some to raise questions relating to AMO's safety record and the possibility of their liability in any Moisture Plus litigation. Though at present no such lawsuit has been announced, anyone with questions should contact an experienced Moisture Plus attorney or a contact lens solution law firm, in order to determine AMO's liability in possible damages resulting from the Moisture Plus recall.