SAN FRANCISCO – In light of information released today regarding an outbreak of Acanthamoeba keratitis among contact lens users, the American Academy of Ophthalmology urges all contact lens wearers to be alert for symptoms of the infection and be especially diligent about maintaining safe contact lens-care practices. 

The outbreak of the infection was linked to Advanced Medical Optics’ (AMO) Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution.  AMO has voluntarily recalled the product and encourages consumers to discontinue the use of Complete MoisturePlus until further information is available.

Consumers should be aware of the signs of Acanthamoeba keratitis. The symptoms, which can last several weeks to months, are not the same for everybody and might include: 

• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensation of something in the eye
• Excessive tearing

“Contact lens wearers should consult their ophthalmologist if they experience infection symptoms,” says H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, executive vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “One of the best ways to reduce the risk of this and other contact lens-related infections is to follow proper hygiene and disinfection steps.”

Consumers who wear soft contact lenses should be careful to handle and store their lenses properly in order to avoid infection. In particular,

• Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
• Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses.
• Do not use tap water to rinse your lenses.
• Rinse storage cases with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and leave the cases open to dry after each use.
• Do not transfer contact lens solution from its original container to anything other than storage cases.

For interviews with ophthalmologists, please contact John Gallagher or Siobhan Bunaes via e-mail or telephone.

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About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons - Eye M.D.s - with more than 27,000 members worldwide.  Eye health care is provided by the three - opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.