Advanced Medical Optic's Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution Recalled Due to Increased Risk of a Sight-Threatening Infection

Implications: Contact lens patients are starting to wonder what contact lens solutions are safe anymore.  After last year's ReNu with MoisturLoc (Bausch & Lomb) worldwide recall due to a fungal infection; and now, Complete MoisturePlus (Advanced Medical Optics) has been recalled worldwide due to an increased risk of a parasitic infection.  What contact lens solutions are safe?  Are there contacts available that don't need to be soaked in a contact lens solution?

Analysis: It is very discouraging as an Eye Care Professional to have to discuss yet another contact lens solution recall with my patients.  Twice in the past year and a half, contact lens solutions that I've recommended, or actually given to my patients, have been recalled due to increased risk of serious infection by various organisms.  I know my patients trust my judgement, and even though this is in no way my fault, I can't help but think a few of my patients, maybe in some small way, have lost a little faith in me.  I'm sure I'm not the only Doctor that feels this way.

So, what is happening?  Are the organisms getting stronger?  Is there contamination somewhere along the manufacturing process?  Are contact lens wearers not following our instructions on proper contact lens hygiene? 

I have to look at these questions and ask which one(s) I might possibly influence.  Really, the only one is better educating my patients on proper contact lens hygiene.  Maybe we've all gotten a little lax in our instructions to every patient, not just the ones we know abuse their contacts.  We assume everyone is doing what we tell them and don't pry a little further to find out what their habits really are.  I have definitely been doing more prying since last year's ReNu with MoisturLoc recall. 
Currently, I still have patients coming in for their annual exams who hadn't heard about the Complete recall and are still using it.  Of course, I immediately have them stop using it, and tell them to throw out their current contacts and contact lens solution.  I'll usually give them Alcon's Optifree Replenish.  Optifree seems to be one of the only 'safe' solutions out there.  ClearCare, which uses a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaner, is another solution that I've been recommending.

I suppose all we can do is wait to see if they find any direct cause of the increased risk for developing Acanthamoeba keratitis.  Until then, I'll continue to recommend what I think is best for I patients... with all the information I have at this point in time.  And that may change tomorrow.