Recalled AMO Product Continues To Be Sold and Injure Consumers, Plaintiffs Counsel Charges

LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) August 24, 2007 -- Signaling a further expansion in the litigation against Santa Ana, California-based Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. ("AMO"), the national law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, announced that seven contact lens solution users filed today a personal injury lawsuit for damages in state court in Los Angeles.

AMO has not yet acknowledged its responsibilities to injured consumers

AMO must compensate all users of its contact lens solution who developed serious eye infections, including reimbursing patients for the cost of their surgeries and other expenses, and agree to pay for necessary future medical care.

Through the lawsuit, we are seeking to have the Court force AMO to make its recall notice loud and clear, so that the product is completely off the market and no future injuries occur

The infestation in my left eye destroyed my cornea. I had to administer drops in my eye for a year

At first I had to administer the drops every hour around the clock. It took twenty minutes to administer the drops because I had to wait five minutes between each drop. The pain was unbearable. The microorganisms were chewing on my nerve endings.

Once the treatment ended, I then had to wait nine months for the corneal replacement surgery in case the infestation was dormant

I am extremely fortunate that I did not lose my eye but my vision is still impaired. I may need additional surgery. This was a terrible experience. I hope my lawsuit causes AMO to ensure its contact lens solution products are safe to use.

is effective against the introduction of common ocular microorganisms.

"AMO has not yet acknowledged its responsibilities to injured consumers," stated Wendy R. Fleishman, a partner at Lieff Cabraser. "AMO must compensate all users of its contact lens solution who developed serious eye infections, including reimbursing patients for the cost of their surgeries and other expenses, and agree to pay for necessary future medical care."

In May, 2007, AMO Complete was recalled. However, plaintiffs charged that AMO failed to adequately notify consumers and retailers. Many consumers continue to use the product and suffer injuries as a result. “Through the lawsuit, we are seeking to have the Court force AMO to make its recall notice loud and clear, so that the product is completely off the market and no future injuries occur,” stated Fleishman.

One Plaintiff’s Experience

"The infestation in my left eye destroyed my cornea. I had to administer drops in my eye for a year," explained Plaintiff Debbie Wooten, a 44-year-old operations manager at a financial services company from Forth Worth, Texas. "At first I had to administer the drops every hour around the clock. It took twenty minutes to administer the drops because I had to wait five minutes between each drop. The pain was unbearable. The microorganisms were chewing on my nerve endings."

Wooten was a regular purchaser of AMO contact lens solution, using the product as instructed. In late 2004, she began to suffer symptoms of light sensitivity, tearing, and redness. Wooten sought medical attention but her doctors were unable to accurately diagnose her condition. At the end of 2004, Wooten lost the vision in her left eye. In January 2005, Wooten was diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis.

"Once the treatment ended, I then had to wait nine months for the corneal replacement surgery in case the infestation was dormant," Wooten stated. "I am extremely fortunate that I did not lose my eye but my vision is still impaired. I may need additional surgery. This was a terrible experience. I hope my lawsuit causes AMO to ensure its contact lens solution products are safe to use."

Background on the AMO Recall and AMO Lawsuits

On May 25, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration alerted health care professionals and their patients who wear soft contact lenses about a voluntary recall of AMO’s Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose. The recall was undertaken because of reports of a link between a rare, but serious eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, caused by a parasite and use of AMO’s contact lens solution.

Plaintiffs charged that AMO aggressively promoted Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose to healthcare professionals as well as to consumers with representations that it was a "highly effective cleaning agent" and that it "is effective against the introduction of common ocular microorganisms."

The Complaint charges that AMO’s contact lens solution was not effective in disinfecting contacts lenses, and vastly inferior to other multipurpose solutions available on the market. The Complaint alleges that AMO’s own data demonstrated the product’s lack of effectiveness in preventing the growth of protozoa microorganisms, including "acanthamoeba." The protozoa acanthamoeba are directly associated with a disproportionate risk and increased incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis in users of contact lens solution products.

The Complaint brings claims of negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment, and violations of California statutory law. Wooten seeks compensatory and punitive damages against AMO for the injuries she has suffered.

Reporters who wish to receive a copy of the Complaint may contact Brandan De Coteau of Lieff Cabraser at bdecoteau@lchb.com.

About Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

With three offices nationwide, Lieff Cabraser is one of the largest law firms in America dedicated solely to advancing the rights of plaintiffs. For the last four years, The National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the United States.

Lieff Cabraser is representing contact lens users across America who developed serious eye injuries from AMO’s products. Injured patients who wish to speak to Lieff Cabraser about their legal rights and remedies without any charge or obligation may contact attorney Kent L. Klaudt toll-free at 1-800-541-7358 or by email at kklaudt@lchb.com or Wendy Fleishman toll free at 888-321-1510 or by email at wfleishman@lchb.com.

To learn more about the AMO contact lens solution recall and litigation against the company, visit www.personalinjurylawyeramerica.com/medical/amo-recall-lawsuit.htm

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