Some Contact Lens Patients Still Unaware of AMO's Complete MoisturePlus Recall

Implications: AMO issued their recall of their MoisturePlus solution in late May, but are some contact lens patients still unaware and still using this solution?  The answer is YES.

Analysis: Yes, I do think that there is cause for alarm.

I still have contact lens patients coming in for their annual contact lens exam using the Complete MoisturePlus, unaware of the worldwide recall, and unaware of their increased risk for contracting the Acanthamoeba infection.

Most patients are stunned when I tell them that the solution that I told them was safe to use last year (and that some have been using for many years) is now, potentially dangerous.  I know my patients trust me in my recommendations, but 2 solutions in 2 years that I've told patients were safe, are now gone from the market.  I hate that it has now come to me having to tell patients to use Optifree or ClearCare, because they are the only solutions that haven't been connected to a potentially blinding infection.

It seems to me that AMO should make more of an effort to reach out to more people via T.V. and radio advertisements, like Bausch & Lomb did last year.  They should consider the amount of money it would take to advertise, thus potentially preventing several nasty infections, and compare that to the amount of money a lawsuit or several lawsuits would cost them.  I'm sure they would come out on the plus side with the advertising.  Besides the money aspect, isn't that just the responsible thing to do?