Dangerous contact lens solutions!

AMO, based out of Germany Inc., is pulling its Complete Moisture Plus, Complete Comfort Plus All-in-One Solution, and Complete Starter Kit from the US market.

According to a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services, the manufacturer decided on this voluntary recall as a precaution, due to a potential risk of users developing an eye infection caused by Acanthamoeba bacteria.

The manufacturer suggests that anyone with unused bottles of Complete solution return them to the pharmacy or specialty retailer where they were originally purchased so they can be disposed of properly.

The Department of Health and Human Services is urging all Complete solution users to follow these instructions.

I have some Oxysept, Comfort Plus, and Lens Plus products from AMO lying around at home—I really want my eyes to stay healthy! Does anyone know if these specific ones are unsafe too?
Has anyone here used these products?

Laura Rodriguez48 said:The US market is seeing a recall on several contact lens solutions from AMO, Germany Inc., specifically their Complete Moisture Control Plus, Complete Comfort Plus All-in-One Solution, and the Complete Starter Kit...
due to the risk of eye infections caused by Acanthamoeba bacteria.

Honestly, amoebas, bacteria... is there really a huge difference? 😎

I actually have some Oxysept, Comfort Plus, and Lens Plus solutions from that manufacturer—AMO—sitting right here at home! Does anyone know if these specific ones are dangerous too? Has anyone else used this stuff lately???

I’ve been using Complete Moisture Control Plus and Comfort Plus for years without a single issue, and for the last
few months, I even switched over to Oxysept (which, in my opinion, does a much better job at cleaning).

Laura Rodriguez48 said:The Department of Health and Human Services mentioned in their press release

Hmm,
could you please share the link to that statement?
Otherwise, 😈 we all know how it goes!

Nah, no way... amoebas are protozoa... bacteria aren't 🙂

I'm really hoping this is just one of those "bras cause cancer" type rumors. I soak my lenses in Complete Comfort Plus All-in-One Solution, and I'm not changing my routine.

So, where's the link??

F! Here's the link.
Now what? Ugh.

And honestly, what’s even worse is that the press release says these amoebas are basically just bacteria—they just don't realize it yet🤣 🤣

Ugh, seriously... I was finally getting used to using Complete Comfort Plus All-in-One Solution, and now I feel like I need to rush to the pharmacy and stock up before they pull it from the shelves entirely😢

I was honestly so spooked by this news that I ended up falling down a total Google rabbit hole, only to discover that this solution is being pulled from shelves almost everywhere across the globe... I’ve actually been using it for years now and have always been perfectly happy with it, so I'm left feeling completely lost—does anyone have any suggestions for something similar in price that won't leave me hunting for a new brand every single time I need a fresh box? Honestly, the symptoms of this infection are just terrifying to read about, especially since it sounds like I might be checking off every single box; isn't it just awful how hard it is to detect because the symptoms mimic a standard, everyday infection? I also came across some advice recommending that anyone who had lenses stored in this solution should probably just toss them out immediately... It’s a huge relief that I happened to order a new batch of lenses yesterday since mine were nearing their expiration date anyway, though now I just have to wait two whole weeks for them to arrive...🙄

Toss it? Heck yeah. They’re actually expiring on me in a week. Specifically the right one. I already lost the left one twice in just four months.
Just like someone said, right when I finally got used to using Complete.

So, what should I pick up now?

The rental crew finished their work a few months back,
but they left me with some fancy Italian gadget that didn't do a thing during my testing phase...
What's next? Give me some ideas!

Angela Reyes3 said:I got so spooked by this news that I went down a total rabbit hole on Google, and apparently, this solution is being pulled from shelves almost everywhere globally. I’ve been using it for years and honestly, I’ve been happy with it, but now I’m stuck. I have no clue what to switch to that won't break the bank, especially since I want something where I actually get a fresh pack every single time. Does anyone have any suggestions? The symptoms of this infection are honestly terrifying—it feels like I’m checking off every single one on the list. It’s even scarier because the reports say the disease is so hard to detect specifically because the symptoms mimic a standard, run-of-the-mill infection. I also read that you're supposed to just toss any contact lenses that were stored in that solution. It was such a stroke of luck that I ordered a new batch of lenses yesterday because mine were about to expire anyway, but now I’m stuck waiting two weeks for them to arrive.🙄

Where on earth did you read all that?????? I’ve been using this stuff since before I can remember!

Fak! I’m already using Bosch and Lomb eye drops that everyone keeps claiming are toxic, and now I have to deal with this too? Seriously?!!!!!!!!!!!11

Jamie Kim said:Actually, hold on... amoebas are protozoa—bacteria aren't the same thing. 🙂

I’m really hoping this is just one of those "bras cause cancer" type rumors—I use Bausch + Lomb solution for my contacts, and I'm not switching.

So, where's the link?!

That amoeba is seriously dangerous, though—it can cause blindness. So, yeah... go ahead and joke around if you want...

Angela Reyes3 said:I did a bit of digging on Google after seeing this news, and apparently, they’re pulling this solution from the market almost everywhere globally. I’ve been using this specific brand for years and I was perfectly happy with it, but now I’m stuck. I have no clue what to switch to that won't break the bank, especially since it feels like you get a different brand or formula every single time you try to find a replacement. Honestly, reading about the symptoms of this infection absolutely horrified me. It sounds like a nightmare because it hits you with everything at once—and the worst part is that it's notoriously hard to detect because it mimics a standard, run-of-the-mill infection. You don't even know you're in trouble until it's too late. I also read that anyone who had contact lenses stored in that solution should just toss them immediately. Luckily, I actually ordered a new batch of lenses yesterday because my current pair was expiring anyway, but now I’m stuck waiting two weeks for them to arrive.🙄

I just finished reading this article, and honestly, I am absolutely livid. I immediately tossed out the contact lenses I just put in the other day. I’m heading back to the store tomorrow to demand a full refund. After that recent warning about B&L making dangerous lenses, and now this? I think I'm officially done with contacts altogether. I’m switching back to glasses. It’s such a massive pain because I’ve been so used to wearing lenses, but this is just too much. Absolutely horrific.👎 I’ve been rocking the Invisalign system for nine years now—it’s basically part of my identity at this point. I even have one of those specialized cleaning devices to keep everything spotless.

Michelle Taylor82 said:recent reports about B&L making dangerous lenses

Wait, where did you see that?

jadesailor14 said:Where exactly did you see that?

I'm not sure where the official word is right now, but I remember seeing reports all over the news recently about B&L pulling their treatments from the market. Honestly, I didn't think much of it at the time.

Do a little digging on B&L; I'm sure you'll turn up something useful.

Zlokotlokrp said:Take a look at this! I am absolutely loving this! posted Take a look at this PDF and tell me what you think—honestly, how much cause for panic are we actually looking at here?
I really think we should consider bumping those numbers up, even if just by a tiny margin. I mean, when you look at the math, we're talking about maybe one or two cases of an AK infection per million users—is that really enough to feel secure? Should we be aiming higher than that?
It really could just be a simple case of "user error," don't you think? I mean, take something as basic as rinsing things out under the kitchen tap with regular tap water instead of using distilled—it’s such an easy little slip-up to make, yet it can change everything!

You might want to give Oxysept a shot since it comes from the same manufacturer, but just keep in mind that you'll definitely need to pick up some saline solution to rinse your lenses properly afterward.

Look, I’m not saying this is happening in every single corner of the market, but when you see a trend pulling back from the entire landscape like this, you have to admit it’s clearly more than just some minor hiccup, right? Beyond the technical side of things, I also have to consider my own physical limitations—I deal with incredibly sensitive eyes and a really high prescription, so I’m just not in the headspace to be taking unnecessary risks right now.
I used to rely on Oxysept back in the day, but honestly, it never quite hit the mark for me. I’ve always found myself gravitating toward those convenient all-in-one solutions—there's just something about having everything in one bottle that makes life so much easier, don't you think? Does anyone else feel the same way, or am I just being lazy? I'd love to hear if you guys have any other clever ideas or recommendations!

Michelle Taylor82 — I actually did a quick search on Google for some reviews, and honestly, it was pretty eye-opening to see how many hits come up regarding product recalls, lawsuits, and even reports of infections and other issues... If you were looking into specific symptoms, they seem to be fairly standard stuff too: redness, irritation, that annoying feeling like there's something stuck in your eye, or even just blurry vision. Out of curiosity, where do you usually pick up your contacts? I can't even remember which brand I'm wearing right now; I know they're labeled Optima, but I have a sneaking suspicion that might not actually be the manufacturer's name.

I have to come clean and admit that I’m probably a bit more reckless than most when it comes to my contact lens routine. Honestly, when I wash my hands, I don't bother drying them with a towel before I start handling my lenses; instead, I just place the lens right onto my wet palm. Now, don't get me wrong—it's not like I'm letting a ton of water pool there, but I do try to shake off as much excess moisture as possible first. Once the lens is on my hand, I add the solution, give it a good scrub, and then add even more solution before popping it into my eye. My reasoning was always that if I use a paper towel or a cloth, those tiny little lint fibers always seem to snag on my skin and end up stuck to the lens, which is a total nightmare. But after reading some things, I've suddenly become incredibly paranoid about whether my method is actually okay!😲

Angela Reyes3 said:Look, I'm not saying this happens all the time, but if they're pulling it from the entire market, it clearly isn't just some minor hiccup... Plus, with my eyes being super sensitive and having a high prescription, I'm really not looking to take any unnecessary risks here...
I used Oxysept before and honestly, it wasn't great; I much prefer the "all-in-one" solutions... Anyone else have suggestions?

@ Michelle Taylor82 - I actually Googled the name of the solution and you wouldn't believe how many hits come up regarding recalls, lawsuits, infections, and stuff like that... If you're wondering about symptoms, things like redness, irritation, feeling like there's something stuck in your eye, or blurry vision are pretty standard... Where do you usually pick up your lenses? I can't even remember my specific brands—I know it's an Optima brand, but I doubt that's the actual manufacturer...

+ I have to admit, I’m a bit of a careless lens wearer myself... Basically, when I wash my hands, I don't dry them with a towel before putting my lenses in; instead, I put the lens right on my wet palm (not like I'm squeezing water everywhere, I try to keep it as dry as possible), pour the solution, rub it, add more solution, and then pop it in... It's because if I use a towel, those tiny little lint fibers get stuck to my hands and end up on the lens... Now I'm starting to feel totally paranoid about it...😲

I buy mine at a specialty shop, Complete Moisture Plus (that's the solution, right?)

Michelle Taylor82 said:I pick them up at a specialty shop—Complete Moisture Plus, if I remember correctly, is the solution, right?

Wait, I was actually talking about the contact lenses themselves...

I was wondering, what actually happens when we take a solution back to the pharmacy? Are we forced to just buy a completely different brand, and if so, which one would you recommend? Also, is there any kind of refund policy in place? On a side note, I’ve been dealing with a really nasty eye infection for the last week or so—maybe it was caused by the solution itself—and honestly, it makes you wish the healthcare system here in the States worked a little differently...😕