Fungal keratitis is a serious and painful corneal disease caused by a fungal
organism.
Until the latest Bausch & Lomb ReNu MoistureLoc recall, fungal keratitis was
rarely been reported in the healthy contact lens wearing population. Typically,
Fusarium keratitis occurs after trauma associated with plant matter or in immuno-compromised
patients. The higher incidence of fungal keratitis among normal contact lens
wearers is a recent finding.
The cause of the increased incidence of Fusarium keratitis is currently under
investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.
Fungal keratitis (Fusarium keratitis) symptoms include blurred vision, a red and painful eye that
does not improve when the contact lens is removed, increased sensitivity to
light, and excessive tearing or discharge. If you experience any of these
symptoms, you should visit your eye-care professional immediately.
Diagnosing fungal fusarium keratitis is difficult because it requires differentiating
between fungal and bacterial infections. Confirmation may be obtained from your
doctor through corneal culture, corneal tissue biopsy, or confocal microscopy.
Since lab results take time, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics pending
results. Should fungal treatment be warranted, topical or oral anti-fungal
agents may be used. In some cases, surgical intervention, like corneal
transplant, is necessary.
Talk to a lawyer today if you contracted Fusarium Keratitis from ReNu and want to file a lawsuit.
