Bausch & Lomb Acts Quickly to Recall Defective Contact Lens Solution

Implications: So Bausch and Lomb is involved in yet another recall.  At least Bausch and Lomb learned a lesson from the big MoisturLoc® mess.  Pulling the affected solution lots quickly and voluntarily was the smartest thing they could have done.  But I have to ask, 'Where is the quality control?'

Analysis: So, what's up with Bausch & Lomb (B&L)?  They held a firm grip on the contact lens market share for many years, and in about a year's time, they've had 2 significant recalls.  The first was the MoisturLoc® disaster that caused vision loss, corneal transplants, and lawsuits that I'm sure B&L will be paying off for many years to come.  And now, just as they are starting to dig themselves out of the financial and legal hole left by MoisturLoc®, they screw up again and have to recall another lot of solutions.  At least they acted quickly this time before any major problems occurred.  There were reports that B&L allegedly knew about the problems with MoisturLoc® months before it was reported to the CDC and subsequently pulled from shelves worldwide.  And we know how that worked out for them.

I think the two major effects of this recall on B&L are further damage to their currently hurting reputation, and a further decline in consumer confidence.  For the most part, these go hand in hand.  Those who know about this latest recall, patients and Doctors alike, are likely to avoid B&L's solutions again.  Sound familiar?  If this story had made the evening news, there would be a whole different level of avoidance.  Luckily, for B&L, this story was kept fairly quiet.  So, those who haven't heard about the recall will continue to use the solution and go on their merry way.

The obvious question to ask is, 'So where the heck is B&L's quality control?!'  You would think after MoisturLoc®, they would have cleaned house, fired everyone vaguely involved with allowing the solution to be produced, and then hired a crack team of super inspectors.  Apparently, not.  Optifree® and Complete®, get ready to take over more of the market share.