Screenshots: Eyecare scare: Go for self-care as official advisory lags

Since the eyecare scare series was started, Screenshots has been inundated with enquiries on what contact lens users need to do when our Ministry of Health did not provide any advisory to the general public.

The series is related to Bausch & Lomb ReNu multipurpose solution having been put under clinical investigation by the Singaporean health authority in the wake of acute increase in fungal eye infection south of the causeway. Bausch & Lomb has since voluntarily withdrawn ReNu from market shelves in Singapore and Hong Kong pending the outcome of the investigations. ReNu remained suspended in the two markets, OpticianOnline reported on Feb 27.

To date, Bausch & Lomb did not do the same in Malaysian market, though industry sources told Screenshots that Bausch & Lomb Malaysia shared the same inventory with its Singaporean counterpart.

In The Star report dated Feb 25, Bauch & Lomb South-East Asia managing director Foo Eng Chuan was quoted as saying that his company would not suspend the sales of ReNu multi-purpose solution in Malaysia. Reason: "There had been no report of corneal infection in Malaysia so far."

The Ministry of Health in Malaysia has been conspicuously silent on the matter, and it did not react to Foo's statement.

Meanwhile, a Bausch & Lomb ReNu user Johan Taharin has informed Screenshots that he had an eye infection recently after using the multipurpose solution. He has since filed a complaint to Bausch & Lomb Malaysia through England Optical, a reseller of ReNu.

It has also been noted that a 19-year old student, Jermaine Tan, had to perform a cornea transplant in February to save his eyesight. His predicament, according to media reports, was related to using a certain brand of multipurpose contact lens solution.

Looking for professional advisory

Screenshots spoke to several eyecare product brands to seek their advice on the precautionary measure in a situation where the local Ministry of Health has shown lacklustre in educating the consumers.

Yesterday, Bausch & Lomb Malaysia emailed Screenshots a standard media release through its public relations company, Hill and Knowlton (SEA) Sdn Bhd, advising the "contact lens users to practise proper contact lens care, hygiene and usage as advised by their eye care practitioners regardless of the type of contact lens or lens care solutions being used". The PR release, however, did not mention the Do's and Don'ts.

In the past few days, Screenshots has been unable to locate contacts for the local trade association for contact lens practitioners for their advisory.

Yesterday, a Screenshots reader from Singapore scanned a newspaper cutting of the local paper to share it here:

Meanwhile, a local agent for AMO (Advance Medical Optics), another eyecare brand from the USA, pointed Screenshots to the Contact Lens Practitioners' Board (CLPB) of Singapore, which has published an authoritative advisory in colloboration with the Singapore Ministry of Health.

Screenshots urges you. Take no chances when your eyesight is at stake!

The CLPB Singapore reminds contact lens users of the following:

Practise proper contact lens cleaning and care regimes. Lenses must be rubbed with the fingers and rinsed thoroughly before soaking overnight in a multi-purpose solution.
Disposable contact lenses must not be used beyond their recommended disposal period.
The multi-purpose solution in the lens storage case must be changed everyday even if the lenses are not used daily.
Contact lens storage cases should be replaced at least every three months.
Users should stop wearing the lenses if they develop any redness, blurring of vision or pain of the eye and to seek consultation with a doctor or contact lens practitioner.
Alternatively contact lens users may wish to use spectacles instead for the time being.

Comments

HOW TO CUT COST IN GETTING A PAIR OF SPECTACLES?

Even before the 30 sen hike in petrol prices, many of us (who need that extra pair of "eyes") would cringe at the spectacular prices one can see at almost all the spectacle shops. You can hardly find a pair of frames for less than RM100 and with the lenses thrown in; a completed pair can cause you a bomb. This is especially so for many studious "four-eyed" students who need a new or replacement pair at a budget price.

It seems most of the shops are making a killing by selling so called "branded" ones with obscure names. With any named added on, they appeared special and prices are jacked up accordingly.

Apparently you can get reasonably quilty frome from the roadside stalls retailing between (RM8 – RM12) and by replacing these unsuitable lenses with a prescribed ones from the shops the cost for a pair can be had for RM58 to RM62.

See details of “SPECTACULAR SAVINGS ON SPECTACLES” by a blogger in
http://blog.thestar.com.my/default.asp?d=3/13/2006

Posted by: mwt | March 15, 2006 07:35 AM

The body that should come out with a statement (if the MOH continues to remain silent) is the Malaysian Ophthalmological Society

http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=738
http://www.mma.org.my/inside/societies/ophthalmological_society.htm

JEEFF OOI says: Anybody aware of the Malaysian Ophthalmological Society has taken a position on thematter so far?

Posted by: palmdoc | March 15, 2006 08:08 AM

Aiya, What is the fuss? Just go wear spectacles la...Still also handsome what...Just look at Jeff's picture la...he look handsome what!...Except he know..I more handsome than him one la! And I also use glasses ma!

Posted by: Observer | March 15, 2006 09:33 AM

Isn't it a shame that we Malaysians, where semua pun boheh, have to look to Singapore for our health advisories?

Posted by: Observer | March 15, 2006 09:34 AM

Usually , MOH Malayisa will follow or just " cut-and-paste" the safety guildeline for food and product if Singapore has made annoucment prior. But in this incident, MOH Malaysia do not react at all.

The website of MOH Malaysia does not post any advice regarding this incident but the picture of Dr Chua and Latif is still swapping constantly and steadiily 0n the webpage .....

Posted by: Pentiumboy | March 15, 2006 10:47 AM

I really have a good laugh reading all the comments on this B&L saga.I checked out our local MOH website and true enough the picture of the 2 MoH men are nicely posted there. But ironically, there's a link to Singapore MoH and ta da!there's the case. So, why bother linking us to our neighbouring MoH when nothing is going to be done here.Make us all envy their MoH. So efficient.sigh......

Posted by: mind-essence | March 15, 2006 02:56 PM

Hi guys...

Seems nobody in the MoH is aware of this issue, have anyone actually alert them by giving them a CALL or FAX or EMAIL with regards this issue?

JEFF OOI says: Actually, two days ago on March 13, I have alerted somebody 'high up' at our MoH. You now know how disappointed I am.

Well, you may think that they 'should' know, but sometimes they also need a 3rd eye to give them the info.

If possible, or if anyone knows the contact/hp or anyone in the higher rank of the MoH, please do give them a call and at least ask them to have a look at Screenshot for more info..

I guess, at times we may overlook this things...

Posted by: izudeen | March 15, 2006 04:34 PM

Breaking news from Bernama:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=185910
Not because of the 'Johan case' though:

The ministry's statement said that as of today, the Tun Hussein Onn Hospital had listed 14 contact lens-related infective keratitis cases between January 2005 and February 2006.

"Out of these 14, six patients cited ReNu as the solution used, one used a combination of ReNu and Alcon solutions while four reported using Complete solution," the statement added.

And he regurgitated the contact lens care advice by Sing MOH.

Posted by: howsy | March 15, 2006 10:16 PM

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Eyecare scare: Go for self-care as official advisory lags

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