Recalled lenses sold in Costco stores in Canada, Walmart, Costco and LensCrafters stores in USA, 1-800-CONTACTS (on-line) and through eye care practitioners in Australia.
FDA, Health Canada silent on this recall.
On August 19, 2011, The Cooper Companies, Inc. announced a recall by its subsidiary, CooperVision, of “limited lots” of Avaira® Toric contact lenses. The recall was described as being due to “…the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses.” According to the news release, which was intended to advise investors of the recall, the residue was discovered as a result of “… a small number of complaints of temporary hazy vision.”
CooperVision has posted the following recall notice on its web site.
“Avaira® Toric Limited Lot Voluntary Recall
We at CooperVision take great pride in the quality of our products.We initiated a voluntary recall after investigating a small number ofunexpected wearer reports of hazy vision and discomfort. The wearer symptoms were temporary in many cases.
This recall involves only a slight percentage of Avaira Toric lenses. To determine if the Avaira Toric lenses you wear are included in this recall, enter the Lot Number found on your product package or blister (as shown in the illustration) into the search box below.
We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you. For more information read our Questions & Answers document. You can also call 1-855-5-COOPER or if you have any other questions. (Consumer Care hours of operation are 9:00AM-5:00PM EST Mon-Fri).”
In contrast, eFoodAlert readers tell a scarier story. Here are three comments, which were posted in response to my initial recall story.
- From Helen: “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.”
- From Krystal, in Texas: “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.”
- From Dan in Virginia: ”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.”
I’m neither an optometrist nor an ophthalmologist, but these reports sound a lot worse than just “temporary hazy vision.”
Here is what we know about the distribution of these recalled contact lenses.
- Recalled Avaira Toric lenses were distributed in the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and Spain (according to the Hong Kong Department of Health).
- Avaira Toric contact lenses were sold in Walmart (per Dan in Virginia, above).
- BioComfort XO Toric lenses also were recalled. These lenses were distributed directly to members of the Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists.
- Encore Toric contact lenses, which were sold in Costco Canada warehouse stores (Costco Item #277220) between April 18 and August 23, 2011, also have been recalled.
- Contacts (Avaira?) were sold in Costco in Seattle, WA (per Ineke van W in Washington, below (Update #1).
I call on all eFoodAlert readers to help publicize this recall. The vision you save may belong to a friend or family member. Here is what you can do:
- If you or a family member wears Toric contact lenses, go to the CooperVision recall web page and enter the lot number of your package to determine whether your lenses have been recalled. If you no longer have the package, and you have experienced any discomfort whatsoever, stop wearing the contact lenses. Contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist for advice.
- Email this story to any friends or family members who wear contact lenses – especially if you know that they use Toric lenses.
- If you, a friend, or a family member has experienced a problem with these lenses, please post your story as a comment, below. Please state where you live (city, state/province, country), and where you purchased the Toric lenses. I’ll add this information to the recall distribution list.
Media coverage of this recall has been sparse – in keeping with the tone of Cooper’s original recall notice. Together, we can do what FDA, Health Canada, and CooperVision have collectively failed to do – GET THE WORD OUT!
Update #1 – From Ineke van W in Washington: 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.
Update #2 – August 30, 2011: Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration posts recall notice for CooperVision Avaira® Toric contact lenses.
Update #3 – From Annette in Texas: 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.
Update #4 – From Melissa in Georgia: REGARDING AVAIRA TORIC CONTACT LENSES:
I’ve suffered a severe corneal abrasion due to this lens. My lot number is involved in the recall. Over the weekend I noticed vision in my right eye was filmy so I removed the contact. About an hour later I was in severe pain in that eye–felt like a bee stiniging my eye. Doctor at the ER said I had a corneal abrasion in the shape of a contact over 15% of my cornea. I called my eye care provider and they said they had no idea of the recall. It’s frustrating that no one from either company failed to notify me that these lenses were defective. I live in Atlanta, Georgia and purchased these lenses at a Lencrafters.
REGARDING AVAIRA TORIC CONTACT LENSE:
I’ve suffered a severe corneal abrasion due to this lense. My lot number is involved in the recall. Over the weekend I noticed vision in my right eye was filmy so I removed the contact. About an hour later I was in severe pain in that eye–felt like a bee stiniging my eye. Doctor at the ER said I had a corneal abrasion in the shape of a contact over 15% of my cornea.
I called my eye care provider and they said they had no idea of the recall. It’s frustrating that no one from either company failed to notify me that these lenses were defective.
By: Mellisa Cotton on September 5, 2011
at 9:27 am
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I live in Atlanta, Georgia and purchased these lense at a Lencrafters.
By: Mellisa Cotton on September 5, 2011
at 9:29 am
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After wearing Bousch and Lomb for years, I went to Costco to get a new prescription of contact lenses and they gave me a pair of these contacts to try… at first I thought that I had picked up an eye infection because we had had been away at a funeral so I was constantly touching my eyes with tissue…when we got back home and my eyes cleared up they gave me a new trial pair but after a few days the same thing happened to my eyes, I am so frustrated because all they did was call me and tell me not to wear them, to throw them out and to come back in for another pair to try. After two weeks of eye drops the lady told me I dont need to use them any more and within a day of stopping the full infection and pain is back. I woke up this morning in pain, my eyes won’t stop watering and I look horrible.I am thinking I will never trust to wear contact lenses again. All I am offered is a new pair to try… I can’t believe that a company can be allowed to get away with this… all their key people should have to go through this themselves and maybe they will take our pain and frustration into account and run their business with some sort of integrity!
By: Lorna on September 10, 2011
at 11:42 am
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My son got these contacts as his first time trying contact lenses. He is 12. I am shocked at the thought that these lenses could have harmed my childs vision. He wore the trial pair with out any problems, but when we opened the new box he had problems with the right eye being blurry & sore. We cleaned the lenses overnight & tried them again the next day. We threw away that pair & tried another pair. Still the same. They were blurry & hurt. The right lens did not hurt. We then tried 2 left lenses because his Rx was almost the same in both eyes. That worked. I told the vision center where we purchased them about the problem & they reordered the contacts fo us thinking there was a problem. My son continued to wear the 2 left lenses. He then told me they were itching & bothered his eyes & refused to wear them. Yesterday I found out they have been recalled. I called my eye care provider & they ordered new trials & told him not to wear them again. We purchase the lenses at Wal-Mart in Elkhart Indiana. This was an eyeopeining experience for me.
By: leslie crothers-wood on September 16, 2011
at 6:42 pm
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I want to know exactly what this “residue” is and plan on taking legal action. I also went to the er with severe pain in my left eye. This pain was worse than child birth. I too had a severe corneal abrasion. I went to my eye doctor THREE TIMES complaining of my left eye. Why didn’t they know about the recall????? This is pure negligence.
By: deirdre on September 18, 2011
at 5:52 am
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I bought my lenses in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania from my eye doctor.
By: deirdre on September 18, 2011
at 5:53 am
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Wow this is so strange. My contacts were part of the recalled lot. I remember on one particular evening my contacts gave me hazy vision and I was seeing rings of rainbows around sources of light (I assume because of the oil). It was not really bothersome actually…. I admit I was somewhat entertained by it. I don’t understand how my corneas were not affected. I had them on for hours, and when I put them on the next day, my vision was clear.
By: Sara on November 17, 2011
at 7:44 pm
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My contacts came from Laurier Optical in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. They caused severe itch, pain, and redness. Went to my doctor, who diagnosed me with having conjunctivitis ( pink eye!!), prescribed anti-biotic which seemed to work, although by that time i was solely wearing my glasses. I was also taking allergy medication as we had just adopted a cat and with her being long-haired i just assumed i had new found allergies…just glad we didn’t give her up, we talked about it
. Interesting thing is, these posts seem to go back to early september, my store didn’t call me until today: December 5th!!!!!! Hows that for taking care of your patient.
By: Tawnia on December 5, 2011
at 10:49 am
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