NEWSspectrum

Allergan Issues Voluntary Recall of Some Products

Allergan plc has announced that it is conducting a voluntary recall down to consumer level of specific lots of its Refresh Lacri-Lube 3.5g and 7g for dry eye, Refresh P.M. 3.5g for dry eye, FML (fluorometholone ophthalmic ointment) 0.1% (sterile ophthalmic ointment topical anti-inflammatory agent for ophthalmic use 3.5g), and Blephamide (sulfacetamide sodium and prednisolone acetate ophthalmic ointment, USP) 10%/0.2% sterile topical ophthalmic ointment combining an antibacterial and a corticosteroid, 3.5g.

Allergan chose to initiate this recall based on a small number of customer complaints that reported a small black particle at the time of use. This black particle, which is part of the cap, can be created by the action of unscrewing the cap from the aluminum tube and can potentially be introduced into the product. Reported adverse events include foreign body in the eye, eye irritation, ocular discomfort, product contamination, superficial injury of eye, eye pain, eye swelling, and blurred vision.

Specific lots are being voluntarily recalled in the interest of patient safety. The lot number and expiration date may be found on the bottom flap of the carton with the safety seal and on the crimp seal of the product tube. Affected products should be returned to Allergan. Lot numbers involved in the recall can be found at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm459485.htm?source=govdelivery&utmmedium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

Survey Finds that Most Contact Lens Wearers Put Themselves at Risk

Almost all of the estimated 41 million contact lens wearers in the United States ≥18 years of age may be engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report indicated that nearly one-third of contact lens wearers reported experiencing a previous contact lens-related red or painful eye requiring a doctor’s visit, and approximately 99% of wearers reported at least one contact lens hygiene risk behavior. The majority of wearers reported:

• Keeping their contact lens cases for longer than recommended (82.3%).

• “Topping off” solution in the case (55.1%).

• Wearing their lenses while sleeping overnight (50.2%) or napping (87.1%).

Furthermore, and of particular concern according to the report, contact lens wearers of all types frequently reported exposure of their contact lenses to water, including storing or rinsing their lenses in tap water and showering or swimming while wearing lenses.

Each of these behaviors has been reported in previous studies to raise the risk of eye infections by five times or more.

An online survey was administered to a sample of contact lens wearers to determine how often they engaged in behaviors that could put them at risk for an eye infection. CDC collaborated with the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) group, a multi-university group of researchers, to conduct the survey. A separate survey was used to estimate the number of contact lens wearers—about 41 million adults. According to the CDC statement, taken together, the survey results indicate that millions of Americans could be at risk for serious eye infections because of poor contact lens hygiene behaviors.

The complete report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6432a2.htm?s_cid=mm6432a2_w.

Cooper Expands N. A. Leadership

CooperVision, Inc. has named Michele Andrews, OD, as director of Professional Affairs for North America. In this newly created position, Dr. Andrews will work closely with eyecare professionals in the United States and Canada to help deepen CooperVision’s support of eyecare professionals’ needs in the contact lens market.

Her other responsibilities include providing technical support for new and existing products and representing CooperVision at key industry and professional meetings throughout North America, where she will act as a spokesperson to the professional communities.

Prior to joining CooperVision, Dr. Andrews most recently served as executive vice president of Professional Services at For Eyes Optical Company, where she developed and implemented the organization’s strategy for its affiliated Doctors of Optometry.

Prior to that, she was the senior director of Provider Relations and Clinical Services at Eye-Med Vision Care.

B+L Appoints Rosenblatt

Bausch + Lomb (B+L) recently announced the appointment of Brian Rosenblatt, OD, as director, Professional Strategy. Dr. Rosenblatt will join Dr. Jill Saxon and Todd Love, directors of Professional Strategy, in coordinating the company’s Eye Care Professional (ECP) outreach efforts across Vision Care.

In his new role, Dr. Rosenblatt will be responsible for enhancing Bausch + Lomb’s professional outreach program through its team of U.S. contact lens experts, maximizing communication and support through professional educational events, and continuing to forge relationships with key optometric industry members.

Immediately prior to joining Bausch + Lomb, Dr. Rosenblatt was the president and co-owner of Rosenblatt Family Eye Care Associates in Raritan, N.J., where he worked in private practice for 23 years. A member of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians and the American Optometric Association, Dr. Rosenblatt has served as the principal investigator in numerous ophthalmic studies and as a proctor for the National Board of Optometry. He is a published author in optometric peer-review journals and has lectured nationally.

Poll Reveals CL Wearer Concerns

See Clearly America, a national online consumer opinion survey, revealed that contact lens wearers say they are concerned about the potential for increased risks not only to their visual health, but also to the privacy of their personal data, that could arise from online purchase of contact lenses.

The survey found that nearly 75 percent of contact lens consumers feel that it is riskier to obtain their contact lenses from online and other sources rather than from their local eyecare practitioner, according to Public Opinion Strategies, a public opinion research firm.

Less than 10 percent of contact lens consumers say they believe that their personal health information is more likely to be properly safeguarded by online and other sources rather than by their family eyecare practitioner.