Bausch & Lomb has reportedly settled almost 600 lawsuits stemming from antifungal infections caused by their lens cleaner ReNu with MoistureLoc. While there are dozens more lawsuits pending, the Associated Press reports, the cost so far is upward of $250 million.
The fungal infection, Fusarium keratitis, has the potential to cause blindness and 7 people in the US had to have an eye removed as a result of contracting the infection. A further 60 more people required corneal transplants to prevent vision loss.
Between June 2005 and September 2006 the Centers for Disease Control confirmed 180 cases of the infection in 35 states. Reports of the infection continued to trickle in months after the product had been recalled from the market.
