May 3, 2006
A Wall Street analyst is predicting Bausch & Lomb will be forced to
issue more product recalls after the Centers for Disease Control
determined that almost all of the company's ReNu eye care products
were linked to severe fungal eye infections.
The company stopped sales of ReNu contact lenses with MoistureLoc solution last month after the product was linked to an apparent outbreak of fusarium keratitis, a serious eye infection.
Banc of America analyst David Maris issued the forecast in reaction to the CDC's finding that 96 percent of all infected patients who were using contact lens were also using ReNu products.
Of those, only 59 percent were using MoistureLoc, while 41 percent were using other products manufactured by Bausch and Lomb.
The CDC is said to now be investigating additional cases of the eye infections. Maris said Bausch & Lomb's original decision to suspend shipments of just ReNu with Moisture Loc may have to be expanded in light of the CDC action.
