In what can only be described as a stealth recall, CooperVision has recalled “limited lots” of its Avaira Toric contact lenses. In its August 19, 2011 news release, the company described the scope and reason for the recall as follows:
“This recall is limited solely to specific lots of Avaira Toric, and no other CooperVision product is involved in this recall.
The recall was initiated because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The residue was identified after investigating a small number of complaints of temporary hazy vision. The manufacturing issue has been identified and a resolution is in process. It is anticipated Avaira Toric shipments will resume shortly, and inventory will return to normal levels by December 1, 2011.”
A list of affected lots was not included with the recall notice; instead, consumers are invited to enter the lot number from their product package on the Avaira® Toric recall web page. As far as the FDA website is concerned, as of today (August 23rd), the recall still does not exist.
What is especially curious about this recall is that the Hong Kong Department of Health (DOH) has advised the public that Coopervision Hong Kong has recalled all of the Avaira Toric and BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses distributed in Hong Kong. In addition, the Hong Kong DOH press release advises that Avaira Toric lenses have been recalled in the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The CooperVision web site gives no information regarding in which countries the recalled contact lenses were sold. Nor have ANY of the countries mentioned in the Hong Kong press release alerted consumers to this recall.
Have the FDA, Health Canada and all of the other affected national regulatory agencies turned a blind eye to this safety recall? Or are they asleep at the switch?
Members of the public who wear Avaira Toric or BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses should consult their optometrists. Pronto.
My son went to ER due to severe eye pain. His 1st Avaira Toric caused blur vision and rainbow coloring to his vision, but it disappeared couple days later. Then his 2nd pair had the same effect. so he took them off. Then his eye pain started. It was so intense we took him to ER.
By: Helen on August 27, 2011
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Helen, as a help to other Toric users, would you care to reveal your city/country and the place where your son purchased the Avaira Toric contact lenses? CooperVision is playing this recall very close to the vest.
Thank you. Phyllis
Phyllis Entis, MSc., SM(NRCM) eFoodAlert
URL: http://efoodalert.wordpress.com Email:
By: foodbuglady on August 27, 2011
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I live in Phoenix AZ and had the exact same thing happen to me. I ordered my Avaira Toric lenses from Lens.com. First pair made my vision cloud up after 20 minutes. Second pair I left in for 8 hours. When I went to take them out they were stuck on my eyes, so much so that I scratched the surface of my eyeballs taking them out. Pain was so intense I was blind and couldn’t open my eyes for two days. Eye Dr. gave me a salve and pain meds, but there was little relief for the first couple days. Just the slightest twitch of my eyes against the eyelids was agony. I feel for anyone who has gone through the same thing. I’m glad I now know the reason my contacts were messed up, and know it wasn’t my fault.
By: on October 6, 2011
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We are located in Texas in the US and my son was in severe eye pain he had to miss the 2nd day of school. This was a horrifying experience for my family. The pain inflicted on my son was unbearable to watch. After taking him to his doctor then to an ophthalmologist purchasing 3 different prescriptions the bills staked up. His cornea was severely scratched and swollen. A week later he is doing better. We are just praying no long term damage was caused.
By: Krystal on August 29, 2011
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My daughter also had to go to the ER due to severe eye pain after using these contacts. Diagnosed with severe tear to the cornea. Doing better now, scheduled to follow up with an opthamologist today. Contacts were purchased at the walmart in Hampton, VA.
By: dan mcneil on August 29, 2011
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I purchased contacts at Costco in Seattle WA and also ended up in the ER with the most excruciating eye pain. ER doc noted that the corneal abrasion was in the shape of the contact lens.
Has anyone inquired about reimbursement for medical bills? I incurred several hundred dollars due to the ER visit as well as follow up eye care and lens fitting.
By: Ineke van W on August 29, 2011
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I purchased the contacts at Costco in Irvine, CA. I also ended up in the emergency room due to severe eye pain and swollen face. I was diagnosed with corneal swelling and a severe corneal abrasion.
By: Holly on August 30, 2011
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I received a call at work around 2:15 am and it was my wife crying and telling me her eyes hurt and she could not see! I took her to the ER and she was diagnosed with corneal abrasion. These new contact lenses are supposed to be so great… Better vision is what they – Cooper Vision states on their adds, that is a joke. We are going to seek legal remedies on this company!!! And I think this is going to blow up more, that this is only the beginning of complaints.
By: Scott on August 30, 2011
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I experienced blurred vision in one eye after putting on a fresh pair of Aviara Toric contacts. It was severe clouded vision that lasted for about 2 hours after taking the lenses out. I talked with my optometrist and my eye appeared to be normal, but he thought their could have been a scratch on the eye.
By: Angela on August 31, 2011
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I purchased the Avaira Toric lenses in Spring, TX through 1800CONTACTS. When I took them out on the first day of wearing them (Tuesday, 8/30/11) it felt like I scratched my eye. When I woke up the next morning I couldn’t open my eyes. The pain was so severe. I went to my eye doctor and was told that both my cornea’s were torn. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic but I still can’t see well enough to drive. I have never felt pain like this before.
By: Annette Titlow on September 1, 2011
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I experienced SEVERE eye pain. It hurt to have my eyes open it hurt to close them. It felt like something was scratching my eye. I have experienced this twice. I was in bed all day. I was going to go to the ER but I decided to take something to put me to sleep.
By: Dee Angela on September 8, 2011
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I too went to the emergency room in July 2011 – severe pain that i cannot describe – I also was treated for a corneal abrasion and sent home with 3 different prescriptions and oxicodine for the Pain!!
I am utterly speachless that my eye doctor did not warn me of the recall – I even went to my doctor’s office 3 seperate times complaining of my left eye.
I am appalled at the lack of communication and want to know what exactly the “residue” is?
By: deirdre on September 18, 2011
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silicone oil is the contaminant that prompted these recalls
By: Andrew on December 6, 2011
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I scratched my cornea twice because of these lenses! It was the worst pain I have ever felt and I am still paying off the ER bills. I am furious that these lenses were the cause.
My eye doctor called me about the recall, claiming it was due to the contacts causing “dryness” and said they would be replacing my lenses with another type at no charge. This was after the first corneal abraision, which I just assumed was my fault- that I took out the lens improperty, which is what the ER doc said is usually the cause of these abraisions. But I have been wearing contacts for years and this had never happened before. I did not tell the doctor about the abraision, because they only asked if I was experiencing any issues related to my contacts being dry or uncomfortable.
Then I had the second abraision this past weekend and thought maybe the recall had something to do with what’s happening to me. So I looked online and found this website and immediately called my eye doctor. The nurse on the phone brushed off my concerns, saying that the lenses were recalled only because they caused dryness.
I just went to pick up the replacement lenses and I took a print out of all of these complaints to my doctor. The nurse told me that “You can find anything on the internet” and again said these contacts only cause dryness. Then she gave the print out back to me without even looking at it.
I am furious and am switching eye doctors! If they had been upfront with me from the beginning, I wouldn’t have scratched my cornea a second time! And what the heck is this residue? It’s all very scary because I feel like we’re being lied to!
By: Diana on September 22, 2011
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Picked these up on a wednesday. Friday I tore off half my cornea in one eye and scratched the hell out of the other. I have been wearing contacts for over 10 years and i have never had this issue. Pasco, Washington is where I purchased them. Today I got a call from 1800contacts telling me about this recall. I looked up my lot # as advised and they are part of the recalled batch My new eye doctor is meeting with her associates to discuss how they plan on dealing with their patients’ needs. Has anyone heard or filed a class action law suit? I missed a day of work, ruined my labor day weekend and put me through hours/days of pain.
By: Court on September 22, 2011
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Pflugerville, TX, I ordered my Avaira Toric lenses from Lensking.com on August 8th. After I received them, I put one set on right way. About 30 minute later, my vision began to see cloudy white. I thought I had eyes problem so I removed them and threw them away. A month later, on September 28th, I put on a new set. They were OK at first. About an hour later, my vision was cloudy again. My eyes were a little irritated but I could handle OK. My right eye was irritated more than my left eye. I was at work and I didn’t have my glasses with me. I had them on the whole day. When I got home, I removed them off. My right eye was so painful. A couple hours later, it was swollen and I couldn’t open my eyes. My brother took me to the doctor and the doctor said he didn’t know what causes it. He prescribed me pain antibiotic medication. The second day I went to see him again. This time he said ” NO wonder I was so painful because my cornea torn and rolled back.” At this point, he still didn’t know what cause it. By Monday, the following week, I checked online to see if I can change to my old brand of lenses. Then I discovered Avaira Toric is recalled since August 19th (about a week after i received my order) but no one informed me. Sure enough, when I entered the lot numbers on Coopervision recall website, all my 3 boxes right eye lenses, are the recalled lenses.
By: Whitney on October 12, 2011
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Call Drew Duffy at Saltz Mongeluzzi who is going to file a class action lawsuit for all of the other people that got hurt by these contacts. Don’t sign any of the releases that Cooper sends to you. You should give him a call.
By: M on October 18, 2011
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Good Idea!
By: M on October 18, 2011
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Got my recall notice in the mail today 10/28/2011 saying that coopervision has a recall on avair toric soft contact lense typed in my lot number and they are recalled. Took my contacts back to walmart when i got them. The ladies had NO idea here was a recall that I was the first person to come in. They had to call their main office i guess getting ready to get a new brand and they said i have to go to my eye doctor to get a brand and bring that back to order. I have had so many problems with my left eye since i have been wearing these. Left eye gets all red, swollen, and waters so much i cant handle it. Never had been to the Er for it. Now this week my left has been red all week and hurts. The person at walmart said to flush it out well duh i have been all week like 6 times a day and still does no good at all. Went to eye doctor and cant get into monday so im stuck all weekend not being able to drive bc i cant wear the contacts. Im hoping there is going to be a lawsuit bc i will join in it.
Thanks for reading
Christina from Missouri
By: Christina on October 28, 2011
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Forgot to leave out about the cloudiness that i had when i 1st put them in. Lasted about 1 hour after i put them in took them out still lasted for an hour, threw them away tried another pair same thing, called the eye doctor and he told me everything was fine just to keep wearing them. Well everytime I have to put new contacts in its the samething. So im hoping to get different contacts that doesnt do this.
By: Christina on October 28, 2011
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Im from goodyear Az and had the exact same thing.I experience severe eye pain on both my eyes.The pain was so intence I couldnt have my eyes open or close.My husband took me to the eye doctor,he gave me some drops called tobradex that did not work.He had to take me to the ER where they didnt do much either.I got home and had to put bags of ice on both my eyes and that seem to help a little.Im still having burning and redness on my eyes i cannot wear contacts at all.I was using the sofmed breathables lot #491303000528 and yes this are in recall and nobody notified me about this.I’m also hoping there is a lawsuit agaist them and i will also join.Thank you….
By: Jessica Carrillo on December 14, 2011
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