Torn Corneas, Blurry Vision Linked to Recalled Contact Lenses

October 2011

Reports of torn corneas and blurred vision have led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to threaten to issue a public warning about recalled Avaira Toric contact lenses that were sold at stores like Costco, Wal-Mart, and LensCrafters.

CooperVision, Inc., which makes the contact lenses, hasn’t followed an FDA request to broaden public notification of problems with the defective lenses. They were originally recalled in August due to unidentified “residue.” The company hasn’t provided a list of retailers where the contacts were sold or a complete list of affected lots. The FDA can request, but not require, the manufacturer to do so.

CooperVision said in a statement that it has “fully cooperated” with the FDA, while critics assert that the recall has been “downplayed,” leaving consumers vulnerable to injury. The lenses were also recalled overseas, where the public notice included a list of more than 200 affected lots.