I've been using Renu for ages... I think since JC times, and have never had a problem. But to be on the safe side, pending investigations by Bausch and Lomb, maybe shall switch to another brand meanwhile.

But maybe some lens-users do not realise how you should not wash your lens case with water, how you must change the lens case at least every 3 months or how you should not keep changing the lens solution used.

On the one hand, I think opticians should be more stringent about dispensing lens when it is just a pair or two. 'Cause no eye examination would be conducted then, when any problems could be realised sooner. On the other hand, any lens users, often or not, cosmetic or corrective, should have the responsibility to find out regarding proper care. I mean, in the end, it is your eyes, right?

Contact lens risk, HSA investigating: CONTACT lens wearers — take heed.
TodayOnline 18 February 2006

There has been a jump in the number of fungal eye infections related to contact lens use, with seven cases reported last month and three this past week alone.

Three patients, aged 20 to 43, have had to undergo urgent corneal transplants to save their sight.

Since last May, 22 people have suffered from infections of the cornea, a transparent window covering the eye. The Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) has treated 19 of them.

Patients can suffer significant loss of vision in the affected eye if the infection is not diagnosed or treated early, said the Health Ministry.

In an advisory released on Friday, the Ministry said the rise in such infections, caused by the Fusarium fungus species, was "unprecedented" as most corneal infections involving contact lens was bacterial in nature.

According to the Ministry, all the patients used disposable soft lenses, and cleaned and stored with them in multi-purpose contact lens solution.

All but one of them said they used eye health company Bausch and Lomb's (B&L) ReNu with MoistureLoc solution. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is investigating the product.

B&L said that despite the lack of conclusive scientific proof that the solution was responsible, it would suspend sales of the product indefinitely. Its chief medical officer will fly in from the United States on Monday to conduct the investigations with the HSA and SNEC.

Contact Lens Practitioners board member Roland Izaac said he was "surprised" at the recent increase in such infections and was unsure of the cause.

"It could be because more people are using contact lenses. And people do abuse their lenses, as they would wear them for four or five years without bothering to clean them," said the eye doctor with 30 years' experience.

The SNEC estimates that there are between 300,000 and 400,000 contact lens users here. — Lee U-Wen