Were you injured after using Opti-Free Replenish contact lens solution? If so, you’re not alone: users of this product have developed stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a severe bacterial infection, and other serious side effects.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one suffered an injury after using Opti-Free Replenish, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against Alcon and our lawyers can help.
What’s the Problem?
Opti-Free Replenish is a multi-purpose contact lens disinfecting solution made by Alcon. Unfortunately, use of this product has been linked to a rare bacterial infection known as stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia). This type of bacteria normally live inside and around the body without causing harm; however, when it invades a normally sterile organ like the eye, it can cause adverse health complications including:
- Pneumonia
- Bacteremia
- Endocarditis
- Mastoiditis
- Peritonitis
- Meningitis
- Soft tissue infections
- Wound infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Eye infections
Contact Lens Injuries
In addition to being linked to stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Opti-Free Replenish solution and other similar contact lens cleaners have been linked to eye burns, vision changes/loss of vision, chemical burns, corneal ulcerations and other adverse reactions. Alcon has been accused of failing to warn Opti-Free Replenish users about the product’s potential to cause these injuries, and of not providing adequate instructions for its safe use.
How Do Infections Occur?
Bacterial infections occur most often in people who wear their contact lenses to bed. The bacteria typically enter the eye when the organ’s natural resistance to infection has been compromised by either trauma or prolonged contact lens wear. Bacterial infections increased in prevalence following the introduction of soft lenses in the 1970s.
Contact Lens Solution Recall
Bausch & Lomb recalled its ReNu with Moisture Loc contact lens solution in April 2006 after it was linked to a potentially blinding eye infection called fusarium keratitis. Although the solution was released in 2004, and Bausch & Lomb became aware of eye infections associated with it in 2005, the company did not recall it until April 2006.
In May 2007, AMO Complete MoisturePLUS multi-purpose contact lens solution was recalled following reports of severe eye infections. Injuries linked to the product could result in permanent damage or blindness.
About Opti-Free Replenish Class Action Lawsuits
Although we are a nationally recognized class action firm, the Products Liability Litigation Group at our law firm has decided against the filing of an Opti-Free Class Action Suit, and is currently filing individual claims on behalf of individuals and/or their family members who have been injured after using Opti-Free Replenish contact lens solution.
A class action is a type of lawsuit filed with the court on behalf of large group of people or “class” of individuals that have been injured or wronged. The class is represented by the law firm and the case is generally decided upon a single member of the class who is sometimes referred to as the “class representative or class rep.”
Similar lawsuit: Elmiron vision loss lawsuit
Why Our Law Firm Is Filing Individual Lawsuits Opposed To a Class Action
In some instances, a class action may offer some advantages, as they aggregate a large number of individualized claims into one representational lawsuit. The aggregation can increase the efficiency of the legal process, lower the costs of litigation and in some cases offer the solution to a common problem wherein small recoveries do not provide the incentive for any individual or law firm to file an individual lawsuit.
However, a class action suit can also be a detriment to many class members, as they are often forced into a blanket “low ball settlement” and higher attorney fees. At Schmidt & Clark, LLP we understand that our clients are suffering emotionally and economically due to loss of wages and/or high medical bills and we plan to maximize each client’s recovery by filing individual Opti-Free Replenish Lawsuits on their behalf.
Learn more about the other recent lawsuits about dangerous drugs.
Do I Have an Opti-Free Replenish Lawsuit?
The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Opti-Free Replenish Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one was injured after using Opti-Free Replenish contact lens solution, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.
