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WW Files Suit Against Bausch & Lomb and Two Doctors After West Virginia Resident Loses Eyesight

WW filed a lawsuit on behalf of Brenda Keefer against Bausch & Lomb and two of Ms. Keefer's treating physicians.

The lawsuit alleges that, in 2005, Ms. Keefer suffered a corneal ulcer, light sensitivity, excessive watering and excruciating pain in her left eye after using ReNu with MoistureLoc, a contact lens solution manufactured by Bausch & Lomb, Inc. According to the lawsuit, two ophthalmologists treated Ms. Keefer with a steroid medication that caused her conditions to worsen. The lawsuit alleges that in December 2005 Ms. Keefer was treated for a condition called acanthamoeba. However, the lawsuit alleges that by the time she was diagnosed and treated for acanthamoeba her eye was too severely damaged to repair, despite having undergone a corneal transplant and multiple other treatments. Ms. Keefer is now blind in her left eye. According to the complaint, Ms. Keefer "has suffered and is suffering severe pain, emotional distress, diminished earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life and severe and permanent physical injuries."

On April 10, 2006, Bausch & Lomb removed its contact lens solution, ReNu with MoistureLoc, from the U.S. market after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released information suggesting that the product is linked to a rare eye infection known as fusarium keratitis. Fusarium keratitis is a serious eye infection that can develop through the whole depth of the cornea. Symptoms include eye pain, eye discomfort, decrease in vision and light hypersensitivity. The infection can require prolonged drug therapy with antifungal medication. Those infected with fungal keratitis who do not receive or who do not respond to medical treatment may experience significant loss of vision and will usually require surgical intervention, including corneal transplantation.

"According to the Centers for Disease Control, 181 cases of the infection were reported in 36 states. West Virginia is not listed among those states." Cheryl Caswell, "Woman Files Suit Against Doctors for Eye Infection," Charleston Daily Mail, Nov. 7, 2007.

The Charleston Daily Mail reported on the lawsuit WW filed on behalf of Ms. Keefer. Click here to view the article.