The Singapore Ministry of Health recently informed the Center for Health Protection in Hong Kong that seven cases of fungal corneal infection had been reported earlier this year. All seven used contact lens solution of Bausch & Lomb.
Of a total 19 people affected since May 2005, 18 used the B&L's ReNu contact lens solution. The ReNu product sold in Hong Kong and Singapore is made in the US. B&L explained Monday that 98 percent of the ReNu product sold on the Chinese mainland is manufactured locally. Sales of the product would continue on the mainland including Beijing.
Officials from B&L added that the ReNu product sold on the mainland had passed the ISO 9002, ISO 14001 tests and met State Food and Drug Administration guidelines. They added that when being manufactured the lenses and solution had no contact with the outside environment. To date Beijing has reported no eye problems linked to B&L lenses or ReNu product.
The Beijing Bausch & Lomb Eyecare Co Ltd announced Monday that the B&L chief medical expert had arrived in Singapore on February 20 to probe the mystery. And for the moment B&L have voluntarily stopped the sale of the ReNu product in Singapore.
A shopkeeper of Xueliang Opticals -- a chain store group -- explained that there were only a few companies producing contact lens solution. The ReNu product has been selling well, he said.
There have been no reports of any problems with the ReNu product from Beijing chain stores including Xueliang, Fenghao and Baodao.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiaohua, February 22, 2006)