Update for my Acanthamoeba linked to AMO's MoisturePlus
My solicitor Terry Regan of Wake Smith solicitors, is battling a liability case against AMO-INC, because of their high incident rate of Acanthameoba linked to the product AMO MoisturePlus solution. We are argueing the case, that the solution sold was not fit for its purpose.
July 2008.
I am still fighting my liability case against AMO, for selling a product not sufficient for its purpose. But it is a long drawn out affair, there are only about 3 case's of Acanthamoeba linked to AMO MoisturePlus solution in the UK.
Any one out there who has suffered AK & linked to AMO's MoisturePlus, or anyone with advice, please contact me. I am unfortunately trying to fight the case on a no win no fee, which is very restrictive.
Update, I finally got a out of court settlement.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
AMO MouturePlus & Acanthamoeba
My Personal Ordeal of:
Acanthamoeba Kerititis, linked to AMO MoisturePlus solution.
I don’t know if everybody will have the same pain and symptoms from the Acanthamoeba virus but here is my personal account of my infection and symptoms of Acanthamoeba. First I must stress that it is not a common contact lens problem, but just be that little bit more vigilant with your hygiene. In my case I was fairly hygienic & I used AMO's Complete Moistureplus solution, So I would suggest if your eyes feel sore give them a rest from contact lens for a few days till the eye's seem to be OK.. I always put my lens in sterile solution.
I am hoping this will all help someone else for the future.
I had previously been diagnose with a dry eye, & was using a dry eye solution. On a weekend at the end of Nov 2006, after removing my contacts, I felt my left eye seemed sore, & I developed a infection in my left eye within a couple of days.
After several days my eye was sore to bright lights and was red. I went to the doctors and was given Zoforac ointment which at first seemed to help but then my eye went red again and was burning. After two week of hell which was to long, but I was hoping it would clear up, I went to Manchester Royal Infirmary, Eye outpatients, where they made me come back in the afternoon to the Manchester Royal Eye Acute centre. They saw me twice a week and were brilliant. The only concern they had was that they were treating it for the Herpes Virus, but could not understand why I never had mouth sores. They gave me a lot of drops, then after a week as well as the drops I was using, they gave me some steroid drops, which really seemed to work. My vision was improving very slowly and was almost at minimal driving level. After three weeks at the acute clinic I was discharged to Manchester Royal Eye main hospital, where they decided that they need not see me for a month, and to drop my steroid drops from 4 times a week, to 3 times the 1st week 2 times the 2nd week and 1 drop for final week.
When I got onto my 2nd week and down to 2 steroid drops my left eye flared up worst than the first time, so I went back up on the steroid drops till I went for my appointment. The drops did seem to help.
When I went back to the eye hospital for my appointment, they were very concerned because the eye had actually deteriorated. My sight was now blurred, and I had a ulcer over the Cornea. They got me a appointment with a specialist, who then came to the conclusion that they were dealing with something different to Herpes Virus. I was sent straight away to a Cornea specialist, who straight away said they going to do a deep scrape, and would grow 4 cultures, they were looking for a contact lens virus called Acanthamoeba. The deep scrap cultures came back negative and they decided to do a Biopsie to confirm there suspicions. They could not understand how I had got the bacteria because I told them I never used water & only used a sterile solution. (AMO's Complete Moistureplus.)
By now I was in severe pain, I was told the virus they were looking for attacks the nerves and that’s why I was in pain, they gave some very strong Flurbiprofen tablets, which only just eased the pain and made me very subdued. I also had to take Co-Codamol tablets which lasted about 4 hrs. The specialist also put me on what they call a commercial Domestos drop regime. Which was 5 different drops every 2hrs about 27 drops per day.
The Biopsie confirmed the Bacteria Acanthamoeba.
The specialist dropped some of my drops and I was now on 3 different drops every 2 hrs per day. One of which is very strong and very hard to get hold of, plus 1 drop 1 times a day.
The drops are:
Polihexanide Biguanide (PHMB). Every 2hrs.
Propamidine. Every 2hrs.
Chlorhexidine. Every 2hrs.
Cyclopentolate. Once per day.
Painkillers:
Co-Codamol. But to reduce them.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol). Twice per day.
Here is my personal diary of symptoms and reactions:
By now I was into February 2007, so I am at my whits end. My vision is still blurred.
I had 3 different pain’s at different times.
In the early stages of treatment:
1. At night I felt as though I had a sore on the top left hand corner of my left eye. I also have nerve type pain down the left side of my nose, I feel like I had a blind spot on my nose. I suppose all the nerves in this area including the sinus’s are affected.
2. During the night and in the morning I had a kind of burning sensation on the front of the eyeball, like a oily covering. This maybe the ulcer over the cornea.
3. Sometime in the afternoon I got a red boiling hot flow of water pouring from my left eye, it even burnt my cheek. I was told this was called erosion but I never asked for a explanation.
March 2007:
The pain is still very bad, I am taking more of the Co-Codamol and have stopped taking the very strong Flurbiprofen tablets, so I can try to cope better. I try to make sure I take Co-Codomol just before I go to bed.
1. Every morning within 20mins of getting up, my left eye streams out with water, but its not hot anymore. I was told this is a side effect of the drops. Plus I have to keep blowing my nose, like a bad head-cold. I am using loads of hankies.
2. The bright daylight makes both eyes water, and is very hard to go outside.
3. The pain in my left eye varies from a burning sensation to a throbbing pain. I am at present taking the Co-Codamol every 4 hrs, I try to get them in befire the pain kicks in because it can take 30mins to ease.
I have today 15th March 2007, been to see the Corneal specialist, after my Biopsie result. It was not good news, I was pessimistically told that I need a Corneal graft ASAP to try and save the eye. Apparently the Acanthamoeba needs to be treated within 4wks of it occurring. They feel that it had gone too far and had done a lot of damage that may be hard to repair. I am due for my Corneal graft operation on 3rd April 2007, 2 wks from today.
June 1st 2007. My graft was a success, no pain like I had before. My vision is still poor in my left eye but I have been told it will be a long slow recovery, providing I don't get a rejection or the Acanthamoeba does not return, which is a possibility. I have 16 sutures in my left eye which will be in for about 1yr.
I have been back to eye hospital yesterday, where I told them my left eye was sore, I had a lose suture, which they took out, but it had caused a infection, so I had to have another 3 scrapes to see what the infection is. I am a bit worried incase it is the Acanthamoeba again.
I hope it helps someone out in the future:
May 31st 2007. I have got a Bacteria infection of the left eye which although in a minor stage, could cause my graft to reject. I was given a broad spectrum anti biotic drop every 2hrs, & had another eye scrape. On Sunday 3rd June 2007 I got a phone call to return to the clinic because they were concerned about the result of the eye scrap. On Monday 4th June 2007 the specialist made me go straight into a isolation ward in the eye hospital. I was put on 2 drops every hr, day & night for 3 days. On Thursday 7th June 2007 I was allowed to go home because the bacteria had stabilized, but I was told that the bacteria was very slow to recede. I am at present on 2 antibiotic drops every 1hr during the day for the next 2 weeks.
I have been informed by my optician that the company, AMO-INC that produce my contact solution, Complete Moistureplus, were withdrawing the solution due to a very high incident rate of Acanthamoeba Kerititis of user's of the Complete solution. I have today instructed a law company Wake Smith, using Terry Regan their Medical Negligence partner, to look into my case.
July 2008.
I am still fighting my liability case against AMO, for selling a product not sufficient for its purpose. But it is a long drawn out affair, there are only about 3 case's of Acanthamoeba linked to AMO MoisturePlus solution in the UK.
Any one out there who has suffered AK & linked to AMO's MoisturePlus, or anyone with advice, please contact me. I am unfortunately trying to fight the case on a no win no fee, which is very restrictive.
Acanthamoeba Kerititis, linked to AMO MoisturePlus solution.
I don’t know if everybody will have the same pain and symptoms from the Acanthamoeba virus but here is my personal account of my infection and symptoms of Acanthamoeba. First I must stress that it is not a common contact lens problem, but just be that little bit more vigilant with your hygiene. In my case I was fairly hygienic & I used AMO's Complete Moistureplus solution, So I would suggest if your eyes feel sore give them a rest from contact lens for a few days till the eye's seem to be OK.. I always put my lens in sterile solution.
I am hoping this will all help someone else for the future.
I had previously been diagnose with a dry eye, & was using a dry eye solution. On a weekend at the end of Nov 2006, after removing my contacts, I felt my left eye seemed sore, & I developed a infection in my left eye within a couple of days.
After several days my eye was sore to bright lights and was red. I went to the doctors and was given Zoforac ointment which at first seemed to help but then my eye went red again and was burning. After two week of hell which was to long, but I was hoping it would clear up, I went to Manchester Royal Infirmary, Eye outpatients, where they made me come back in the afternoon to the Manchester Royal Eye Acute centre. They saw me twice a week and were brilliant. The only concern they had was that they were treating it for the Herpes Virus, but could not understand why I never had mouth sores. They gave me a lot of drops, then after a week as well as the drops I was using, they gave me some steroid drops, which really seemed to work. My vision was improving very slowly and was almost at minimal driving level. After three weeks at the acute clinic I was discharged to Manchester Royal Eye main hospital, where they decided that they need not see me for a month, and to drop my steroid drops from 4 times a week, to 3 times the 1st week 2 times the 2nd week and 1 drop for final week.
When I got onto my 2nd week and down to 2 steroid drops my left eye flared up worst than the first time, so I went back up on the steroid drops till I went for my appointment. The drops did seem to help.
When I went back to the eye hospital for my appointment, they were very concerned because the eye had actually deteriorated. My sight was now blurred, and I had a ulcer over the Cornea. They got me a appointment with a specialist, who then came to the conclusion that they were dealing with something different to Herpes Virus. I was sent straight away to a Cornea specialist, who straight away said they going to do a deep scrape, and would grow 4 cultures, they were looking for a contact lens virus called Acanthamoeba. The deep scrap cultures came back negative and they decided to do a Biopsie to confirm there suspicions. They could not understand how I had got the bacteria because I told them I never used water & only used a sterile solution. (AMO's Complete Moistureplus.)
By now I was in severe pain, I was told the virus they were looking for attacks the nerves and that’s why I was in pain, they gave some very strong Flurbiprofen tablets, which only just eased the pain and made me very subdued. I also had to take Co-Codamol tablets which lasted about 4 hrs. The specialist also put me on what they call a commercial Domestos drop regime. Which was 5 different drops every 2hrs about 27 drops per day.
The Biopsie confirmed the Bacteria Acanthamoeba.
The specialist dropped some of my drops and I was now on 3 different drops every 2 hrs per day. One of which is very strong and very hard to get hold of, plus 1 drop 1 times a day.
The drops are:
Polihexanide Biguanide (PHMB). Every 2hrs.
Propamidine. Every 2hrs.
Chlorhexidine. Every 2hrs.
Cyclopentolate. Once per day.
Painkillers:
Co-Codamol. But to reduce them.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol). Twice per day.
Here is my personal diary of symptoms and reactions:
By now I was into February 2007, so I am at my whits end. My vision is still blurred.
I had 3 different pain’s at different times.
In the early stages of treatment:
1. At night I felt as though I had a sore on the top left hand corner of my left eye. I also have nerve type pain down the left side of my nose, I feel like I had a blind spot on my nose. I suppose all the nerves in this area including the sinus’s are affected.
2. During the night and in the morning I had a kind of burning sensation on the front of the eyeball, like a oily covering. This maybe the ulcer over the cornea.
3. Sometime in the afternoon I got a red boiling hot flow of water pouring from my left eye, it even burnt my cheek. I was told this was called erosion but I never asked for a explanation.
March 2007:
The pain is still very bad, I am taking more of the Co-Codamol and have stopped taking the very strong Flurbiprofen tablets, so I can try to cope better. I try to make sure I take Co-Codomol just before I go to bed.
1. Every morning within 20mins of getting up, my left eye streams out with water, but its not hot anymore. I was told this is a side effect of the drops. Plus I have to keep blowing my nose, like a bad head-cold. I am using loads of hankies.
2. The bright daylight makes both eyes water, and is very hard to go outside.
3. The pain in my left eye varies from a burning sensation to a throbbing pain. I am at present taking the Co-Codamol every 4 hrs, I try to get them in befire the pain kicks in because it can take 30mins to ease.
I have today 15th March 2007, been to see the Corneal specialist, after my Biopsie result. It was not good news, I was pessimistically told that I need a Corneal graft ASAP to try and save the eye. Apparently the Acanthamoeba needs to be treated within 4wks of it occurring. They feel that it had gone too far and had done a lot of damage that may be hard to repair. I am due for my Corneal graft operation on 3rd April 2007, 2 wks from today.
June 1st 2007. My graft was a success, no pain like I had before. My vision is still poor in my left eye but I have been told it will be a long slow recovery, providing I don't get a rejection or the Acanthamoeba does not return, which is a possibility. I have 16 sutures in my left eye which will be in for about 1yr.
I have been back to eye hospital yesterday, where I told them my left eye was sore, I had a lose suture, which they took out, but it had caused a infection, so I had to have another 3 scrapes to see what the infection is. I am a bit worried incase it is the Acanthamoeba again.
I hope it helps someone out in the future:
May 31st 2007. I have got a Bacteria infection of the left eye which although in a minor stage, could cause my graft to reject. I was given a broad spectrum anti biotic drop every 2hrs, & had another eye scrape. On Sunday 3rd June 2007 I got a phone call to return to the clinic because they were concerned about the result of the eye scrap. On Monday 4th June 2007 the specialist made me go straight into a isolation ward in the eye hospital. I was put on 2 drops every hr, day & night for 3 days. On Thursday 7th June 2007 I was allowed to go home because the bacteria had stabilized, but I was told that the bacteria was very slow to recede. I am at present on 2 antibiotic drops every 1hr during the day for the next 2 weeks.
I have been informed by my optician that the company, AMO-INC that produce my contact solution, Complete Moistureplus, were withdrawing the solution due to a very high incident rate of Acanthamoeba Kerititis of user's of the Complete solution. I have today instructed a law company Wake Smith, using Terry Regan their Medical Negligence partner, to look into my case.
July 2008.
I am still fighting my liability case against AMO, for selling a product not sufficient for its purpose. But it is a long drawn out affair, there are only about 3 case's of Acanthamoeba linked to AMO MoisturePlus solution in the UK.
Any one out there who has suffered AK & linked to AMO's MoisturePlus, or anyone with advice, please contact me. I am unfortunately trying to fight the case on a no win no fee, which is very restrictive.
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