by Joel Harrison
9. September 2010 07:18
The US Center for Devices and Radiological Health has recently issued a statement concerning the instructions given to contact lens users by the manufacturers of multi-purpose contact lens solutions. To be precise, the Center wants the manufacturers to remove the phrase “no rub” from labels and boxes, and stress “rubbing and rinsing” instead.
According to the FDA, rinsing contact lenses prior to inserting them in the eye results in a reduction in the risk of microbial infections. The FDA recommends putting directions including the rinsing stage on the bottle along with reasonable rinsing times. In addition, contact lens solutions are not to be labelled “All-in-one”, as many contact lens users will also need rewetting drops or enzyme treatments. Placing a photo of an infected eye on the label was another suggestion made by the FDA.
In response to these recommendations, Howard Griffiths, technical director at Sauflon Pharmaceutical, pointed out that they are not enforceable outside the US and are unlikely to affect the UK market.