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Courtesy of the ISMP
Ciba Vision, makers of Clear Care contact lens cleaner, recently updated the product's packaging and labels. But a patient safety group says the changes aren't enough to halt reports of painful eye injuries.
Amid ongoing reports of burning eyes and emergency injuries, the makers of a popular contact lens solution have failed to adequately warn consumers about the dangers of using the product improperly, a patient safety group says.
Labels on bottles of Clear Care contact lens cleaner, sold by Ciba Vision, don’t carry a strong enough caution that the 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution shouldn’t be used directly in the eyes, or clear enough warnings that it must be used only with the product’s proprietary case that neutralizes the solution.
That's according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a nonprofit medication safety agency that has been lobbying for two years to get the firm to bolster its warning labels.
“It’s definitely not adequate. Obviously we’re still hearing these things,” said Michael R. Cohen, president of the ISMP.
Minor label changes were made last year, but Cohen said patients to continue to report accidentally putting the caustic chemical in their eyes, causing severe pain and, in some cases, serious harm. The reports range from dozens of formal complaints filed with government health officials to anecdotal surveys of random groups of contact lens users.
“This isn’t just a trickle of reports, it’s a gusher,” said Cohen, who said he has heard, seen or reviewed hundreds of complaints about Clear Care effects since 2010. “I think it probably ranks up there with the largest number we have ever seen for one product issue.”
However, officials with Ciba Vision, a Novartis company, and the federal Food and Drug Administration, say the firm has updated its labeling several times, most recently in 2011, and that the cautions are now strong enough.
“We believed that these changes were adequate to communicate the warnings to the end users,” said FDA spokeswoman Sarah Clark-Lynn.
The bottles now include a red warning dubbed “Important,” clear instructions to use only the special case and not to put the product directly in the eye. That's in addition to a cardboard collar that warns of potential misuse.
“The new package and label more prominently display the 3 percent hydrogen peroxide content and draw attention to possible consequences (like burning and stinging) of misuse,” said Elizabeth Power, a spokeswoman for Novartis. The product has been used for 30 years, she added.
At least 110 reports of eye problems caused by Clear Care have been reported since 2000 through the federal Food and Drug Administration’s MAUDE device monitoring system, including more than a dozen filed in the last half of 2011 and early 2012, after the packaging was altered. Because the FDA’s system is voluntary, the numbers likely represent a fraction of actual cases, perhaps as little as 1 percent, experts have estimated.
Many of the MAUDE reports describe confusion because Clear Care bottles look the same and are sold near other multipurpose contact lens solutions used for rinsing and soaking lenses. Those products can be used directly in the eye with no problem.
However, Clear Care is a cleaning solution that uses 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and film from contact lenses. It uses a special holder outfitted with a platinum ring that neutralizes the peroxide after about six hours. Instructions on the bottle clearly say that Clear Care should only be used with the special case and never on lenses put immediately into the eye.
When consumers fail to follow those directions, the results are immediate -- and excruciating.
“My eye slammed shut like I had acid in it and it took me 5 minutes to dig it out,” said a user in a MAUDE report filed July 26, 2011. “I believe there should be a huge caution banner across the bottle so consumers understand the result of not using their ‘special case’ is that your eye will be burned with peroxide.”
Several consumers reported that they rushed to hospital emergency rooms, where they were diagnosed with chemical burns, corneal ulcerations and other problems. Typical treatment included eye patches and antibiotic eye drops.
It’s an easy mistake to make, said Nancy Metcalf, a senior program editor for Consumer Reports whose 24-year-old daughter was visiting from college a couple years ago and accidentally used Clear Care directly in her eyes.
“I could hear her screaming,” Metcalf recalled. “She was up in the bathroom screaming. I jammed her eye under the faucet. Her eyes were burning for a couple of days.”
Metcalf still uses Clear Care, which she says is a great product for removing deposits and films from the lenses. But she also makes certain not to mix it up with her multipurpose contact solutions.
Hydrogen peroxide will cause a caustic burn if it gets in the eyes, confirmed Dr. Thomas Steinemann, a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a professor of ophthalmology at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
“Holy cow, if you put the lens in your eye with fresh peroxide on it, you might as well have lighted a fire in your eye,” he said.
But Steinemann also said it’s up to the 36 million to 38 million U.S. contact lens wearers to be aware of what product they’re using and how it works before it gets anywhere near their delicate eye tissue. He recommends consulting an eye care expert before using any new product.
“I hate to say it, but the burden of responsibility is on the user,” Steinemann said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it.”
Cohen, on the other hand, would like to see Ciba Vision add labels that say “Danger!” or “Warning!” to the Clear Care bottles. Even better, the firm should redesign the packaging so that the nozzle of the bottle can fit only into the special case.
“We’re talking about unsuspecting kids and others who use what they think is contact lens soak and wind up in the ER in excruciating pain,” he said. “Seems to me this product should either be a prescription item or redesigned to make it impossible.”
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The is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! I have used this product for years. There is a bright red band around the top of the bottle with a warning. Your eyes will not get burned IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE RED BAND!! Contacts must set in this solution for at least six hours which neutralizes the solution. AGAIN, READ THE RED BAND!!
This is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. Even when used as directed, keeping the solution in contact with the hydrolyzing disk for six hours, I have had episodes that the contact lens burns my eye.
I stopped using hydrogen peroxide base cleaners totally because of it.
ok, my 11 year old daughter uses this product with no issues at ALL! I agree it is user's responsibility to READ the directions before use. I can not believe how lazy as a society we have became, to blame the company for our society's laziness makes me sick. "No matter what I did or didn't do it's not my fault." Just keep on saying that and maybe one day pigs will fly too.
I have used this product for years without problem when following the directions. HOWEVER, more recently, I have experienced several cases where the burning was still experienced after 6+ hours. I have had to stop using the product all together.
OMG, I don't usually comment but I had to this time since I use this product. Has anyone seen the movie Idiocracy? Seems that's actually turned into a fact based movie hasn't? Our society is just being overwhelmed by ignorant, stupid people. If you can't figure out that hydrogen peroxide at any concentration doesn't go in your eyes, or if you can't read a bright red label on a dark background, perhaps you should just jump off the nearest cliff because we don't need you contributing to our already weakened gene pool.
I've been using this product for years and there are PLENTY of warnings on the bottle and packaging--do people not know how to read??? I've used it as directed and have NEVER had a problem. It's VERY CLEAR on the bottle that you are not supposed to put this solution directly into your eyes! There's even a bright red tip on the bottle to remind users of that! I think society is just getting dumber by the day and losing common sense. I cannot use any other brand of contact lens cleaner, as the preservatives and chemicals burn my eyes, no matter how much I rinse them with saline solution--but Clear Care neutralizes itself after 6 hours. Take your lenses out at night and let them soak in the stuff overnight and you won't have a problem.
i agree with all the statements, there is red warnings all over the bottle, and box about how you must not use it before cleaning. Everyone who was hurt should get the Darwin reward.
I too have used this product for almost 15 years and have never had a problem when used correctly - in fact since I am highly allergic to other brands of lens cleaners, this has been wonderful. The stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me - and of course it's always someone else's fault, not that you are an idiot and can't read a lable or see a red warning on the top!
I will say that it's a good idea to have an extra bottle of multi-purpose soak on hand in case you are only going to get 4 hours sleep, or for some reason can't wait 6 hours.
I remember trying this product a few years back, and it does burn your eyes. I couldn't wear my contacts for a few days, and I immediately threw the product out. It came with a weird case.
I'm sure that tens of thousands of people probably experienced this (i.e. a lot more than was reported). When it happens to that many people, clearly the company screwed up.
@Bart Conner
When used as directed? The directions say to rinse the lenses off with saline solution when you take them out. I used to use this stuff and NEVER had a problem even if I had to take the lenses out of the solution early.
hunterbear!!!!!! So right! I am an optometrist. Yes, I am a "REAL" doctor. I cannot tell you how many times a day patients take it upon themselves to "try" something new, even when it something I have not prescribed. Clear Care is a great product, and when I prescribe it for someone I go over the instructions in very careful detail. It is the ignorant people who just pick up a product off the shelf and use it however they see fit that cause this type of journalistic hype to exist in the first place. For those of you who state that it burns their eyes even after soaking in the product-specific container, be sure you are changing the disk and / or container as recommended by your eye care professional. That disk loses its ability to neutralize H2O2 after continual use. Truly what a "blame it on someone else" society we have become.
@N-529260
When the vast majority of people have no issue I think it's safe to say it's not the company that screwed up. I was using this product more than 20 years ago and this is all of a sudden a problem in the last 2? The real problem is that more and more people can't get through life without someone holding their hand.
I agree. My wife has used the solution for a number of years as well. People are just idiots that don't take time to read instructions and labels (I've done it a time or ten myself). I think what Ciba Vision has done is completely adequate.
I don't require any aides to help me see but reading the article and then the posts here and below, I'd say this is a majority problem of people just not following the instructions. Why the hell would you think contact cleaning solution is acceptable to put in your eyes directly??? The product is properly labeled and in no way does it say eye drops. Just because it goes on the contacts does not mean it is ok to put directly in your eyes. Kinda like eating toothpaste or drinking mouthwash. If you are too dumb to look at, read, be sure of it, before you put anything into or on your body then your a dumba$$ and I don't feel sorry for you. I wonder how many of these people also repeated this, several times I'm sure, before they figured out they shouldn't do it anymore. Stupid people like this is what is making it harder for the rest of us with common sense to get on with our lives. Survival of the fittest in deed.
Now I will add to this it does sound like there maybe some issues with the product not working properly in some cases so the company should look into that. A question I do have is why would you need their specific container? That does seem a little odd and could cause some issue, but again as long as you read you should know. So I still do stand by my comment above about people not reading and it being their fault.
It is time to stop all this constant warning and CYA worrying. Companies need to be responsible by all means and should do so accordingly but there is a point. If you can't figure out basic common sense issues then that is your fault no one else's, and you don't deserve anything else because of it. Part of our country getting back on track is finding some common sense again which includes applying personal responsibility and actually hold people accountable for it instead of constantly blaming others or expect someone else to point out everything that is dangerous in life to you; alot of things are easy to figure out on their own or shouldn't require a long detailed explanation.
Dumb Ass people is all I can say, really, I was given this by my eye doctor and told to use it exclusively with my CIBA lenses. I was taught how to use it as well. I love this product and hate that it's good name is being tarnished but IDIOTS! If you are using something in your eyes you damn well better read labels after all you only have two eyes right?
I am so sick and tired of people blaming their stupidity and assumptions that cause them harm on someone or something else. This is were lawsuits with no bases come from and clog the already overwhelmed court system in this country.
Anyone who wears contact lenses should know that hydrogen peroxide is something that never is put directly into their eye. The people who do not follow the directions are the ones who get what they deserve.
You are suppose to rinse the lenses after soaking for a minimum of 6 hours with the hydrolyzing disk! This is a very very important step to be followed.
If people actually would fricking read there would be less of this in the world.
This happened to me. I have worn lenses for 30 years. Usually I use the 'no rub' soak product. But, I've on occasion used Clear Care. I hadn't used it in years. One day, I ran out of my normal saline, and looked around the cupboard and found this Clear Care bottle. I thought "Wonderful, I found more saline!" The next time I put my lenses in I felt the same excruciating, burning pain described in the article. I think the bottle should be fiery-orange or something - not blue. YES, there's red around the nozzle, etc. But, when you're in a hurry and you're used to picking up a blue bottle and squirting, that's what people do! Just change the color of the bottle. How hard is that???
Also, my eye doctor gives out samples of this. Maybe that's why I had the bottle around. I thought "oh, great...an extra bottle of saline for when I run out."... You have to read alot of fine print to figure out that it isn't saline.
I think this could be a good example of the "dumbing down of America." Some people not only do not take responsibility for themselves ("oh, I threw myself down the stairs and no one caught me, so I am going to sue someone"), but they also do NOT know how to read! Or... maybe they think they know everything to know about everything, and do not need to follow instructions. Someone previously mentioned "idiocracy." True. So true....
"I cannot use any other brand of contact lens cleaner, as the preservatives and chemicals burn my eyes, no matter how much I rinse them with saline solution - but Clear Care neutralizes itself after 6 hours"
"This is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. Even when used as directed, keeping the solution in contact with the hydrolyzing disk for six hours, I have had episodes that the contact lens burns my eye.
Apparently it hasnt occured to anyone, but could it possibly be that SOME peoples eyes still suffer burns even when used correctly, because their eyes are MORE sensitive to the chemicals than other peoples eyes?
I mean, we've got people saying they cant use anything but clear care because the other brands bother their eyes, and then some people saying they cant use clear care (even when used properly) because it bothers their eyes.
obviously, these products arent faulty - we just are not all the same, and as such, we respond differently to something that other people can use just fine. its called LIFE and we ADJUST....
as for people using the product improperly, we need to stop coddling the idiots and need to start being honest and real about this. YOU MADE A MISTAKE AND IT WAS PAINFUL.
my guess is, they didn't learn from that mistake if they are still trying to cast the blame on the manufacturer. if they had, this article would be full of people saying "you bet i wont use another product again without carefully reading the labels to make sure im using it correctly"
oh heavens no, we'd hate to require people exercise a little personal responsibility.
People are idiots.
Not only is there a red cardboard band around the top saying don't put this in your eye stupid, but also the nozzle (TOP OF THE BOTTLE, PLASTIC PIECE WHERE SOLUTION COMES OUT) is RED. If that isn't a clear warning that perhaps a little reading is in order, I don't know what is.
OWWW, I burned myself because I spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. No s%^t moron.
Where the hell has personal responsibility gone??
Unbelieveable.......our society has become nothing but a bunch of whiners. This is due to the adults that don't teach their children any responsibility.
I was told not to touch the burner on the stove because it was hot......guess what, it was!!! I didn't do it again and my parents didn't sue the manufacturer for allowing the burner to be hot. BTW, for those who don't understand.....it has to be hot to cook your food!!!!
For those of you saying it still burns after the six hours........have any of you tought about rinsing the lenses with saline BEFORE you put them in your eyes!!!
Unbelieveable........
For those of you who continue to do stupid things...one day your gene pool willl be gone and the world will be a better place.
Novartis.....Thank you for making a great product. Keep up the good work.
"well gee (duh) when I misuse a product and stick it in my eyes, it hurts
LOL, there is a fast food restaurant with the warning on their coffee cups:
"WARNING! hot coffee is hot!" a perfect comment for the terminally stupid that try to blame someone else for spilling hot coffee in their laps
this is what our country is falling to because of stupidity and lawyers
I absolutely LOVE this cleaner. It is the best stuff I have ever used. It's as simple as following the directions and taking some personal responsibility for your actions.
I know there have to be some people out there that remember the concept of personal responsibility as opposed to litigious actions and blaming accusations???
Read the label. It CLEARLY indicates this is not to be placed directly in your eye. Plus it has a bright red top; if you can't be bothered to be a responsible consumer to read the product directions, the bright red top should cause even the laziest to reflect for a moment. How much more warning does one need? Come on people......
Ditto to the above comments; there's a bright red disk around the top of the container warning users not to use the solution directly in the eye or put on a contact then directly inserted to the eye.
Remember..."lather, rinse, repeat"! :-)
Been using it for less than a year. The only part of the directions that I felt was a bit wishy washy was that you could use saline to rinse them after the 6 hours if you wanted. The directions assure you that it's deactivated after 6 hours so I thought "well it should be fine". Nope it isn't! Maybe others can get away with it but I have to rinse them before I put them it. Otherwise I'm not sure what else these people could do besides making the entire bottle red, all the dangers seem pretty obvious to me.
Well apparently based on the comments above I am a moron! This is how it happened to me. When I do not have my contacts in I am blind as a bat. My script is very high as in -5 going to 6. When I was putting in my contacts one day I was having a problem getting my left contact in. Again refer to high script and reached for the wrong bottle, being as blind as I am without any visual aids in, I did not see that I had clear care not saline as the bottles are the same. I sprayed my lens with clear care not saline and popped it in. My daughter who is a contact lens wearer pried my eye open, sprayed me with saline and got the lens out. She called my eye doc to got me in immediately to check for chemical burns. The eye doctor said that yes they do see these events happen with patients who are 1) not paying attention or 2) extremely near sighted and cannot tell the differences in the bottles. Since i was burnt, the only change was the cap was changed to red but I went back to ReNu. I fear this product now, it was the most painful event in my life.
Kayless, I have used this product for years, the top has ALWAYS been red. I have bad eyesight too, but I'm not color-blind.
Excuses, excuses. My script is the same and I can still read and follow directions. Try eyeglasses.....but remember, dont spray the Windex while your glasses are on your eyes....it might burn.
The bottle I have does NOT have this red warning or message. The only place it warns not to put it directly on your eye is in a fine print on the back. Needless to say I thought it was just like all the others ones I used, and poured it right on to the contact then into my eye. I couldn't see for a week, and dropped to the floor in pain. They do need to ensure people know its not like the other brands.
I'm about -8 in each eye and can't read without contacts unless I hold something 2 inches from my face, but even then you could see red on the bottle which would indicate not saline solution.
You cannot regulate stupid!
The fault could never be corporations compromising product safety for profit, right Kristin1031?
I wouldn't be passing judgement on what is ignorant via a diatribe filled with obvious spelling and grammar errors.
amdcan wrote:
This happened to me. I have worn lenses for 30 years. Usually I use the 'no rub' soak product. But, I've on occasion used Clear Care. I hadn't used it in years. One day, I ran out of my normal saline, and looked around the cupboard and found this Clear Care bottle. I thought "Wonderful, I found more saline!" The next time I put my lenses in I felt the same excruciating, burning pain described in the article. I think the bottle should be fiery-orange or something - not blue. YES, there's red around the nozzle, etc. But, when you're in a hurry and you're used to picking up a blue bottle and squirting, that's what people do! Just change the color of the bottle. How hard is that???
Also, my eye doctor gives out samples of this. Maybe that's why I had the bottle around. I thought "oh, great...an extra bottle of saline for when I run out."... You have to read alot of fine print to figure out that it isn't saline.
Amdcan, then this was entirely YOUR fault. You didn't have to read the fine print to figure out it isn't saline, you had to read the big Clear Care on the front label!!!!! Maybe you should rearrange your medicine cabinet.
I have used Clear Care for over 3 years and have never encountered any of these problems. All you need to is follow directions, if you can't get your spouse to help
Never use any type of peroxide in your eyes, and especially not children under 16, who by the way hopefully was never issued contacts, so their eyes, will never actually finish growing normally- I have not yet met an eye doctor using contacts for children, but, I can see some fashion people here do not actually care about their body, including using birth control, and then later having several major medical problems as well.
You must wait for the peroxide to loose the extra oxygen atom, so it becomes water!--Be sure to leave the container open while soaking!
@Kayless
If your eyesight is exceptionally poor perhaps you should take extra precautions. Place a couple rubber bands around the bottle so when you pick it up you'll feel that it's the wrong one.
If people know they're likely to expereince a problem that most people won't have then they should take the responsibility to find a solution that works for them without blaming someone else for not doing it for them.
Kayless - If you are so blind that can't see the red tip without your contacts then it is YOUR responsibility to keep the two products separate.
Thank you H. Goff. I've had no problem looking at and reading the RED CAUTION band across the top of the label.
warning label or not, who really needs to be told not to put hydrogen peroxide in your eyes? i mean, duh!
speaking of warning label, you can see it clearly in the PICTURE THAT HEADERS THE ARTICLE!
Hydrogen Peroxide+eyeball=bad time
If it takes a lawyer to help you figure out this equation it's time for you to close your burning eyes and step off the cliff. Maybe rinse it off with a regular saline cleanser first just to be safe or don't use it directly in your eye to begin with.
To those who replied to me, I did come up with a work around. I stopped using a potentially dangerous product. I went back to a product that I had used for years with no issue. This happened within the 1st bottle of Clear Care. I was lucky I did not have damage.
The point I wanted to make was that you never know the circumstances of the person who gets hurt using this. I would ask that people think that before they have a knee jerk reaction on the matter. Accidents happen, no one wants to put that stuff in their eyes willingly, believe me.
Kayless - They should make the bottle square or put ridges on it, end of story. I have extremely bad eye sight, my script is -13 the COLORS BLEND. Made this mistake 4 weeks ago - the agony. Anyhow, people just have no idea and immediately assume we are all stupid. I've been using Clear Care for years and will continue to do so. Except now I have my hair bands around the bottle body so I NEVER confuse the two again. :)
zerbear101 - Good idea. My eyesight is terrible, also, but I've used Clear Care for years. Accidents do happen, though. I made the mistake of using Clear Care, instead of my saline solution to rinse the lens off prior to putting it in my eye. Wow, the pain was excruciating and whenever you put something that doesn't belong in your eye, it automatically closes up. It was all I could do to pry my eye open and get the lens out! I had to really flush my eye out with saline solution and the pain stuck around for awhile.
I only made that mistake once, though! Never again!
And for all of you bright people out there pointing out Darwin's theory of evolution, his theory had nothing to do with human intelligence/stupidity. We all make mistakes. There are plenty of stupid people in the world and still procreating.
I've had contacts since I was 14 (22 years). I switched to this brand 3 years ago because the preservatives and thermasol (mercury) in the other brands was causing irritation. My contacts always had protein floaties I would have to clean them several times per day.
Now I use this product and a preservative free saline solution and my eyes feel a lot better and i don't have to take them out several times per day. I follow the instructions and it works great - better than any multipurpose solution.
The bottle is clearly labeled, the box it comes in is clearly labeled, it has a plastic seal that is red, a card board cover that is red and the tip is red. All these labels warn you.
MY CONTACTS ARE -11 and I don't get my saline and this bottle mixed up. The colors all blur together....yet I manage. It obviously has red tip and the other bottles don't.
Now I have had a guest who was using my bathroom and decide to take out their contacts and clean them. Now if i have two bottles sitting on the counter and they grab the wrong one with the red warning and don't read it.....IT'S THEIR FAULT. Better yet, since it's not their bathroom, she should've asked me first and I would've given her the saline....and at the same time given her a great tip about switching to Clear Care so she wouldn't have to constantly rinse the protein floaties off her contacts.
People need to slow down, read and stop assuming.
I've been using this solution for 18 years, so perhaps I'm just too used to it. But if I, as a 12-year-old, could learn not to put this solution in my eyes (and I didn't learn by trial and error, either), how hard can it be? The nozzle on these bottles is BRIGHT RED! That sort of screams "pay extra attention!" better than any warning label they could possibly use.
I have never used the product, but my fiance does. A Few weeks ago I had to take my contacts out in her bathroom and unknowingly used the dreaded red tipped bottle of solution. Next morning I tried to put in my contacts. It burned like hell. I took them out and after a few hours everything was fine.
I am no way trying to blame the company for burning my eyes. I am saying that they should not have a bottle that even closely resembles a bottle of saline because for someone that doesn't use this product, they don't know what the solution is except that it is in the same shaped bottle as their normal contact saline.
My fiance swears by this stuff, and so do all my friends. Change the bottle's shape and less of this will happen.
Hey GoofyTigre - how about next time, read the label of what you're using. If your eyes got burned because you put a chemical from a bottle that you DID NOT READ into your contact case, you sort of had it coming. Sorry.
I've used the stuff for years and have never had a problem. It's called reading the directions.
Even if they change the bottle shape, what would they change it to? A square shaped bottle would resemble lighter fluid. An octagonal bottle would just be cool and novel. A triangular bottle would not fit the hand well. Any other ideas?
I once grabbed a bottle of nasal saline to soak my contacts in. I simply wasn't paying attention and the bottle didn't look like contact saline. My stupidity and I paid the price. If you hurt yourself with this stuff, it's your fault, not the company's. I have since rearranged my medicine cabinet so it won't happen again. My responsibility, my fault, so I found a solution instead of blaming someone else.
The burden of responsibility is on the user, end of story. You wear contacts to correct your vision, and, ostensibly, so you can do silly things, like...oh, I dunno...READ. I've been using this solution for five years, with zero mishaps, because I took the time to read the warnings all those years ago. After all...who knew hydrogen peroxide (a mild organic acid) would burn the eyeball?! (insert sarcasm here)
If the user can't be bothered to follow simple directions which are there for their own safety, then they should go back to wearing glasses, and leave the real brainwork to reasoning, careful adults.
You may feel you are making a popular point, but you are also missing the point of the article. This RED band on top is fairly new, and there are many contact solutions that you pour right onto the contact then place into your eye. Since all the others can be put right in your eye, most people not familiar with this brand will assume its like the others, and wind up in the ER. This doesn't just cause a minor irritation, it cause severe eye burn and possible permanent damage.
I always use the other types, and had never heard of this. My wife decided to buy me some since I was almost out, and chose this one. I burned my eye so bad I couldn't see for a week, and it was red for two weeks. The bottle I have doesn't even have the red band on top. The warning on this older bottle I had is on the back in the tiny print similar to the ones you see on disclaimers when you get a prize. It was the last thing on the back label, and easily missed. The point is that yes, I used it wrong, but they could also warn people a little better that it is NOT like other brands.
It has been an industry standard for quite some time that if the solution isn't intended for in eye use, the tip of the bottle (under the cap) is not white (I've had red ones and burgundy ones). This isn't the way it was when I first started wearing lenses, but has been for quite some time. Back then you always had different solutions for cleaning, soaking, and wetting. The tip change came about for the very same reason this one did. Apparently we got with the program well enough with just the colored tips. The only people who would have no clue would be the ones that have exclusively used the multi-purpose solutions and the concept of a dedicated cleaning solution is totally alien to them. Since this product actually predates those aforementioned multi-purpose solutions, it isn't all that unreasonable that it may not have occurred to them that there would be people in the future that didn't understand the concept of a dedicated cleaning solution because they had never had to use one (kind of like needing a couple warning labels on horses (this end kicks, this end bites) because people who've never been around them don't know that). And TFNJ, since the point of the article is that now they are warning people a little better, you should be happy.
TFNJ, the bottle tip has been red for over 20 yrs; I've been using it for that long, so I know.
Tip red, yes. But no red warning label on top. I still have it and looked at it. Point is, if you are not familiar with the product, you could assume its just like the others. Wake up rushing around getting kids ready for school, mind on work, and grab what you think is any contact solution, yes it happens. I'm far from being an idiot, or goofy in any way. But it happened to me because I didn't know it was different from the others. And it has happened to many people. I now know I can't use it that way, but there are new contact wearers that don't know. They should have enough of a warning to avoid severe eye burn. A red tip does not do it. Unless you know of a universal eye cleanser chart that shows colors and what they signify?
Enough, while I'm not young, I haven't been wearing contacts very long, so don't have that years of experience in knowing the color codes of bottles so well. Again, this isn't something that only "idiots" do.
You are sounding all brazen because you were warned about this at one time, so can afford to criticize those who weren't. Sorry if your shallow mind equates this to standing behind a horse, but there is a big difference. Why don't you tell the Patient Safety Group not to bother with safety, since this only happens to idiots.
I was never warned except by the instructions. My doctor never showed me how to use it; I figured it out myself. Your comments show you for the litigious person you are. My main point in all of this is: quit trying to blame the manufacturer, quit frivolous lawsuits and the search for the quick paycheck, and take responsibility for your own mistakes. Like the McDonald's lady; 3 million because she should have been told the coffee was hot. Next you'll want to ban forks because you stabbed yourself in the lip. Maybe we should all be forced to go everywhere surrounded by armored bubbles. THE PRODUCT IS SAFE IF USED AS DIRECTED!
Your main problem is that you assume. You assume that only idiots have this happen to them. You assume that I'm blaming the manufacturer. You assume that it was from a lack of reading, and not just an accident. Your vision of frivolous McDonalds lawsuits have nothing to do with this, yet you keep bringing it up as if that solidifies your argument. You basically just made a fool of yourself in that post, since none of that applies to me. Where did I blame the company? I don't need the quick paycheck son, guaranteed I make more than you.
Glad your doctor showed you, that's wonderful. But don't be so quick to judge those who bought it at a store and weren't aware of the dangers, and who mistakenly thought it was the usual multi purpose we are used to buying. If your life is perfect, well I commend you and I will praise you like a god. But if you are full of crap and have made mistakes in your life, then settle down with the garbage rhetoric.
"I don't need the quick paycheck son, guaranteed I make more than you."
Are you sure about that, lol?
"Glad your doctor showed you, that's wonderful."
You need to work on your reading comprehension. I said: "I was never warned except by the instructions. My doctor never showed me how to use it; I figured it out myself."
Your posts paint you as a litigation-minded apologist; you have indeed blamed the company through implication.
"But don't be so quick to judge those who bought it at a store and weren't aware of the dangers, and who mistakenly thought it was the usual multi purpose we are used to buying."
I don't know about you, but when it comes to my health, I read the label. Read the label, no mistakes.
As for making mistakes, of course I have. I also don't argue about how someone else should have avoided it for me. Read "Robert's Rules of Debate". Name calling and unsupported claims are called "intellectually dishonest" arguments and as such are invalid.
P.S. I love where you call me "son", lol. Looking at your picture; I can assure you that I am way to old to be called "son" by the likes of you. Just another form of belittling someone who disagrees with you; also intellectually dishonest. Any assumptions I may have made were supported by your posts.
This is another story of the impact of stupid people on our society. I have seen waring signs on an iron which read, "caution, surface may be hot and cause burns!" There is something called survival of the fittest and this means that if you can't read and put something like this in your eyes without knowing how to use it you will pay for your stupidity.
I agree with many of the comments here. People need to learn to READ and understand what they are using.
For those of you who can't following simple directions, to quote Jeff Foxworthy "Here's your sign"
Janine - correction that is Bill Engvall (Jeff F. is "you might be a redneck if"). Otherwise I agree!
You are an idiot if you misuse this product. Between the red cardboard under the cap, the red nose of the bottle, and the warning on the bottle, if you put this into your eyes directly, there is something wrong with you and the resulting burn would be no one's fault but your own. Msnbc should be ashamed to post this "news" as a top story on its home page with such a misleading headline.
I purchased a travel sized unit. There was no warning and the writing on the bottle was microscopic. If you had your eye burned, you wouldn't be making such a stupid statement
How about you email me your address and I'll come over there so you can say that to my face? One quick error makes people idiots? I bet you are just 100% on the ball everyday now aren't you? Just kidding, I bet you are disappointed in your life, unhappy where you are. You attack people for petty simple mistakes to try and make yourself feel better. You blame societies "idiots" for your misfortunes in life don't you? Definitely isn't you who is the idiot, huh? The point of this is that a simple error a lot of people make can cause permanent eye damage. I am not a hateful, spiteful, jerk and I don't think people should be punished for making one stupid little mistake in life. Why do you care if they make the bottle different or explicitly explain what can happen, especially that you have to use the container given, why? Maybe because you're unhappy and want everyone to feel as bad as you do.
I use this product daily and have never burned my eye. What is so difficult about reading and following the instructions already printed on the bottle on how to use the product correctly?
Ha, yup, Darwin at work again. Funny this article should come out today because I actually just bought this product for the first time yesterday, read the box like a 34 year old adult should, followed directions, and this morning popped in my nice clean contacts with no problems whatsoever. It's idiots that don't take the minute or two to learn about what they're buying that cause problems for the rest of us. What do these people want, a hand that pops out of the bottle and slaps them in the face if they are about to use it incorrectly? Open your eyes people (no pun intended) and take responsibility for your own actions, however dumb they may be.
Do really Darwin at work because no one is dying because of this.
“This isn’t just a trickle of reports, it’s a gusher,” Must be a gusher of stupid people.
An entire gusher of 110 people over a 12 year period, this isn't even a newsworthy topic IMO. Sounds more like a friend pulling strings to gain some national attention...
Good observation...
Our eye doctor had us try this a few years back, and my daughter accidentally got some in her eye. There was no permanent damage, but it was extremely painful. People make mistakes. Unless this product has advantages that put it light years ahead of others, I don't see the point of exposing people to the risk that one moment's inattention will produce a chemical burn in the eye. Needless to say, we never used it again.
Shoddy: I don't see the point of exposing people to the risk that one moment's inattention will produce a chemical burn in the eye.
I have to use solutions like Clear Care because regular solution cleaners allow too much protein to build up on my contacts and cause my eyes lots of irritation. As soon as I started using Clear Care I haven't had a problem and can wear my contacts comfortably. To take a product away from people who are smart enough to use it because others were careless is unfair and silly.
You are a dumb a$$.
It's the best product on the market. wake up and read the instructions.
Your daughter needs to learn this valuable lesson, not ignore it and blame the manufacturer.
As someone who is allergic to preservative, Clear Care is the only contact lens solution I can use. Please don't take it off the market just because a few people are irresponsible and/or stupid. The warnings, and instructions for use, are very clear.
Perhaps they should just take contact lenses off the market because a few people sleep with them in and get eye infections? Really people, take care of yourselves and be responsible for your own actions. If it burns your eyes when you insert the lens, TAKE IT OUT!
Hmmm seems to me if you wear contacts you should be under the care of a Dr. and they also give you warnings and information about the products you use to disinfect your lenses. The product IS clearly labeled and I have been using it for years and have never had any issues. If you can't figure out how to rinse your lenses according to the directions on the bottle maybe daily lenses or glasses are your best bet... You can't fix stupid!
"I don't see the point..."
HERE'S A POINT - a few years ago, I developed an allergic reaction to the normal "3-in-one" solutions, so my eye doctor switched me to this one. Thank Goodness I had a choice so I could continue to use my contacts!
Stupid is as stupid does. The labels are clear, and anyone who understands what peroxide is/does and halfway pays attention to what they're doing and follows the instructions when they're putting in/taking out their contacts should have no problems with it.
OK before everyone goes off thinking these people are idiots.... i'm far from that and i accidently used it without knowing it would seriously hurt my eye. just like a guy above said "amdcan" I ran out of my own stuff (different brand), so i went down to my bros bathroom. looked around and saw this product...... I saw Clean care and knew it was an EYE contact lens cleaner and off i went, well i put it in a normal container and left it sit for a couple hours.. it was a honest mistake. i was in a hurry to clean my lenses and didnt even look much at the bottle. your in a rush, grab the bottle cause it says contact cleaning solution or whatever on it.. so you think its the same as every other cleaner you have used...
Or whatever?
right there says you didn't read the bottle or even look at it. And you don't think that was stupid?
Apparently, you actually are an idiot !
I will abashedly admit to being burned by this product. My circumstance was that I (foolishly) kept my bottle of cleaning solution next to my similarly sized bottle of saline, and one bleary-eyed morning I grabbed the wrong bottle and squirted the H2O2 directly in my eyes. What followed was an admittedly horrible experience, but nowadays I no longer keep my contact lens cleaner anywhere near my saline solution. So, lesson learned.
I used the product because my lenses felt so "fresh" afterwards. It is a superior product. As for the burning; the nice thing about the human eye is that it heals so quickly. You may feel pain, but the damage is rarely lasting. It takes approximately 24 hrs. for an eye to heal from cataract surgery; your solution is very unlikely to permanently blind you.
Discordia, I too know that pain. I poured it right onto my contact then right into my eye. Yikes..
But it seems 99% of the people here are missing the point (or just like to whine as usual). This warning should be put on for those NOT familiar with the product, and who may assume its like the other brands. If you've been using it for a while and know how it works, great. But for those using for the first time they may not know of this danger.
Johnny - I did almost the same thing, and I do not consider myself an idiot, either. I was at my parents' house visiting and just grabbed what I could find. I even noticed the red tip of the bottle and thought, "I wonder what that's for..." and used it anyway to clean a lens and pop it back in. After the burn wore off a little, I read the bottle and had a huge "DUH" moment. I would never cause a fuss over it, though, or blame anyone else. It was my bad, not the company's. They had the warning there but I was in a hurry and didn't read it.
It seems that many people have a problem with assuming. I think we all know the saying about assuming. If you assume and get burned, it's your own darn fault.
Shoddymill - you say your daughter "accidentally got some in her eye" but then admit it was intentionally put in her eye but she just didn't know better. Maybe her parent should have taught her to READ THE PACKAGING. Did you also just give your daughter however much Tylenol you felt like giving her rather than reading the package and dosing her correctly? I suppose that's the manufacturer’s fault too for not putting a huge warning on it saying you should give your child the correct dose. Take some personal responsibility and teach your kids to do so too!
OK, OK, I get it, for some people this is necessary. As I said, it depends on how great the advantage is. Point made.
I don't even remember how exactly my daughter goofed it up, but it was an honest mistake. Again, humans, even smart ones, make mistakes. We've all been idiots about something, sometime.
Anyway, none of the contact wearers in our household have problems with the regular solutions, so there's no need for us to deal with the stuff.
I've used this product for over 20 years and have never have had a problem. There are multiple warning labels on the bottle, a bright red cardboard collar on the top and the tip of the bottle is bright red. Why do companies have to take the blame for the stupidity of a few consumers?? Man up and admit you weren't paying attention and that you grabbed the wrong bottle!!!
It is their fault. Telling you to use it the way it's supposed to be used is never enough. They need to have armed men in your home, assisting you to ensure it's used properly, but these greedy companies just expect you look out for yourself. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
/sarcasm
Oh my gosh, why can't people just read the label? We love Clear Care. I'll be so disappointed if they have to pull the product for any amount of time. How much more clear can the label be? I hope they don't make it by prescription only either. It's fine the way it is.
I agree with the other posters: I've used this for years. There are multiple warnings on every surface of the packaging. I'm sorry but you'd have to be a moron or drunk not to notice these warnings!! Even in the picture displayed for the article, you can read the warning. Just because a small (relatively) percentage of the population are careless doesn't mean the manufacturer should be held accountable. Now the cost of my Clear Care is probably going to go up to cover the costs of the lawsuit. Damn!!
My husband has been using this brand for a few years, hasn't had any trouble yet, people need to actually pay attention. How hard is it to read instructions?
Apparently very hard. I don't understand why folks can't read.
People can't read or follow directions now a days because their parents aren't engaged in their education! The parents are more than ready to throw a fit at the school about how their child is being mistreated because their precious child has been disciplined for acting up in class but won't bother to work with them on their reading.
My finaces uses this stuff and it pretty *clearly* says only use with case provided, do not put directly in eyes, and that you must leave the lenses in the case for 8 hours. I think this is a bad case of read the damned directions. They're your eyes for goodness sake! You should be reading every inch of text on the box that contains anything you're putting on your face.
However, given that this is obviously challenging for a couple hundred people, a bigger warning label is a small price to pay. I could even see arguing that it be available behind the perscription counter the way psudoephedrin drugs are and that the pharmacist provide the user with a safety sheet. (An actual prescription is a bit much.)
maybe the stores need an aisle just for stupid people.
I don't know about a stupid people aisle, but I would like people to pass a speed and intelligence test in order to use the self-checkout! :-)
I've used this product for over 10 years and I think it's the best product out there. I agree, if the warning on the bottle got any bigger it would poke you in the eye. Read people read.
God forbid people read the label on what it is they are using. Of course they may have trouble reading now, but hey lets blame the manufacturer anyway.
I too have used this product for years. I have accidentally grabbed the wrong bottle when re-wetting my lenses and the label warning is correct: The product does sting and burn like crazy. Did I call and complain to the Gub'mint and try to sue? Nope. It was my error and I took corrective action to NOT grab the wrong bottle the next time. Warnings are there for a reason and Clear Care is explicit and thorough in their warnings. To h377 with the lawyers, consumer advocates and judges and juries and stupid consumers: Ignorance is no excuse!
Consumers like these idiots who complain and sue and show their collective ignorance enrage me. They are the reason good and safe products get pulled, despite adequate and accurate warnings. Products like Vioxx and Bextra worked great, albeit they carried dire warnings about mixing other NSAIDS with them. People ignored the warning and manufacturers were damaged and other consumers were left to our own devices to find competitive products.
Ignorant consumers are and always will cause manufacturers to tread cautiously in the marketplace and that raises the price that some of us are unwilling to pay. I think the Gub'mint should start rounding up the consumers who willfully violate warning labels--sort of like a debtor's prison--and make examples of them.
Wow. We SO deserve to be taken over by an alien race.
I have been using this product for years and have never had a problem. If you aren't bright enough to read directions and follow instructions given by your eye doctor, then maybe you should try another product.
I have done this too. Unfortunately most of us put our contacts in 1st thing in the morning when we are half asleep. It wouldn't make any difference what color the bottle was....dumb things happen when people are half asleep. It's not the company's fault.
My teenage daughter has been using this product for the past two years and easily saw and followed the instructions the first time she used it--and every time since has used it without issues.
You really have to be blind or stupid not to see:
1) The warning labels on the carton
2) The paper ring with the same warning on the neck of the bottle as you take it out of the carton
3) And yet another warning on the bottle's label.
What more do stupid people need--an audible warning that activates each time you touch the bottle?! Really! People have to take responsibility for their actions.
You are dead wrong. All you have to be is sleepy which is how a lot of people are when they first get out of bed. Unfortunately I have to have good eyesight as soon as I get out of bed which means I have to have my contact lens.
And oh, by the way...did you ever consider that people who don't have their contact lens in are partially blind?
I do not blame the company.
A bunch of dumb a$$es out there who can't read or refuse to read the BRIGHT RED label on the product! READ IT! Another sign that our nanny government has far overreached. People just can't think for themselves anymore in this country. Bloomberg wants to ban big soft drinks. Obamas want to blame fast food makers for obesity. Accountability needs to make a comeback in a big way in America.
Perhaps they should get a new eye doctor because obviously they are not using the correct prescription lenses.
I agree with H. Goff. I do not even use this brand I use opti free and I know clear care cannot be used directly in the eyes.
Read the LABEL
Just another case of how stupid people are and how they refuse to read the directions! It's right on the bottle people and every package comes with a case!!!! I have used it for years and never had a problem. WOW!! I'm sure there will be many people who sue because they are STUPID!
I wear hard gas permeable contacts and I've been using palmolive to wash my contacts for years now. It works much better than contact cleaner solution and it removes the oils and proteins that solution does not.
I have news for you. The burning can occur when using their container. I've used this for years as well and know they inclose defective containers with their solution. I've had the solution in their container for 8 hours and still had stinging in my eyes when installing my contacts. It happened with two seperate containers. No lawsuit from me but their quality control can use some work.