“A friend of mine told me to check on recalls with contacts since I have been suffering with problems since the first week in July. It started when I went for an eye exam and got fitted for new lenses. I was given a new pair and that’s when my troubles began. I had itchy eyes, some burning pain, swollen eyelids and discharge. I have been treated twice with antibiotics and my eyes clear. Then treated as allergies. Every time I put in a new pair I am back to the same problems. Now I am on steroid drops because my eyelid inflammation and itching won’t go away. I have not worn lenses in a month. I can’t believe none of my doctors thought of this. I have spent so much on doctors visits and medications. I am going to tell my doctor tomorrow and contact the company. I can’t believe I have been suffering for months over this. I wear Ultra Flex toric lenses and I bought them the first week of August.”
– comment posted October 2nd by Christina (in Florida)
So many people have reported their problems with CooperVision’s Avaira® Toric contact lenses to eFoodAlert that I have set up a Toric Recalls page tab. All posts relating to this problem – together with their associated comments – are listed on the Toric Recalls page.
The contact lens story began in August, when I encountered a recall notice posted by the Hong Kong Department of Health. According to the Hong Kong notice, the recall affected CooperVision Toric contact lenses in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Spain, Germany and Italy. So far, only Hong Kong, Australia, Spain and Italy’s health authorities have posted formal recall notices.
Neither the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor Health Canada have alerted the public to the contact lens recall, although FDA has told me that the agency is monitoring the US situation. Nor – as far as I can tell – has Germany posted a recall notice.
When I read Christina’s comment (quoted above), I noticed that her contact lens brand – Ultra Flex – is not a CooperVision brand. It belongs to Ocular Sciences, Inc. (California). Ocular Sciences manufactures and markets contact lenses under a number of brand names, including: Biomedics, Hydrogenics60, EdgeIII, ProActive, SmartChoice, UltraFlex, Subsoft, Lunelle, Rythmic, and Hydron.
The Connection
The various brands of Toric lenses encompassed by the CooperVision recall were manufactured by CooperVision Manufacturing Ltd. (UK), located in Eastleigh, England. Likewise, one of Ocular Sciences manufacturing sites is in Eastleigh – right around the corner from CooperVision. And there is more.
John D. Fruth, the founder – and former Chairman – of Ocular Sciences Inc., was President of CooperVision’s contact lens division before he founded Ocular Sciences. And he served as a Director of The Cooper Companies (CooperVision’s corporate parent) from 2005 to March 2008.
It doesn’t take a major leap of deductive reasoning to suspect that CooperVision’s Eastleigh production facility may have manufactured Toric lenses for Ocular Sciences. If my suspicion is correct, the list of Toric brands that may be implicated in CooperVision’s “residue” contamination problem would include all of the following.
CooperVision Toric Lens brands: Avaira®, BioComfort XO, Encore 100, and Lent Soft 4 Air.
Ocular Sciences Toric Lens brands: AquaLens, Aqualite, Aquatech, Bioflex, Biomedix, Clearsoft, Clinasoft, Flextique, Hydroflex, Hydrovue, Mediflex, Natural Sight, Neoflex, Omniflex, Optiflex, Optiform, Polyflex, Polysoft, Procon, Proflex, Prosite, Sofmed, Softech, Softview, Target, UltraFlex, and Versaflex.
If you wear one of these brands of contact lenses and have experienced corneal abrasion, blurred vision, or any eye discomfort, please contact your eye doctor, report the problem, and refer him or her to the Toric Recalls page for more details.
eFoodAlert 
At the end of August 2011 after a year of trying 1-day lenses finding no level of comfort, I asked my practitioner to order Frequency 55 Aspherics. I am only able to comfortably wear these lenses for a couple of hours daily. I am somewhat alarmed and relieved to learn the issue may not be dry eyes. My initial thought was the peroxide cleaning solution that may be causing the problem. At times, as I drift off to sleep, my eyes ache. Can anyone suggest alternative lenses for sensitive eyes?
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My CooperVision ClearSoft lenses purchased July 2011 caused the very same symptoms reported by Toric lens wearers–ie: burning, redness, gummy white discarge, pain,and blurry vision.—I attributed it to allergies, and used Visine for relief, continuing to wear the lenses.—I had no idea about the CooperVision recall until 2 nights ago, when my eyes were in such pain, that I went online to search for alternative brands.—There, I discovered all the recall info .–Alarmed, I entered my lot # ar the CooperVision website, which answered that my lenses were not affected(?!)—Yesterday I called Cooper Vision to report my situation, and was told” while my lenses were not involved, I should return them to my eye-care provider, they would replace them free of charge.” I indeed went to my care provider–Cohen’s Fashion Optical–was diagnosed with red-eye , and given a prescription for antibiotic/steroid drops . Needless to say, I certainly suspect that my lenses were the cause;–I have worn this brand for many years with no problem– until July !
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I wore Ultra Flex 55 lens and I developed a serious corneal ulcer which has permanently effected my vision due to the significant scaring. I am in need of a corneal transplant now. What a nightmare
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I had the exact same issue with my left eye and Frequency 55 Toric lens that just happens to be made by CooperVision. I have not seen any mention of this brand in any media. I suffered a swollen eye, discharge, excruciating pain in my eye. I was given drops to clear the issue. This happened 2 months in a row. My doctor looked at me like I was crazy when I said that something is wrong with the lens. It happened the first day of the month for 2 months straight when I changed my contacts. It began with a cloudy spot in my vision in the morning and then an escalating amount of discomfort through the day and finally by the end of the day I coudl barely keep my eye open. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a spare lens case around or my glasses when I was at work.
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The lenses that I mentioned yesterday are made by CooperVision, it is listed on the box. To be more specific the are Ultra Toric ocufilcon D 55 . I bought them through Sams Club. My doctor insists that it is not the lenses. It only causes cloudy lenses. He wouldn’t even read your article.
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Christina, there should be a lot number on the box. You can go to the CooperVision recall web page (http://www.coopervision.com/recall) and enter the lot number into the Search box. If the lenses were recalled, it should tell you.
Maybe you need a new eye doctor? One who is more responsive to his patient’s questions and concerns.
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