§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment her Department has made of the risks of acanthamoeba and related eye infections to 847W users of extended-wear disposable contact lenses; and when these risks were first brought to the attention of her Department;
(2) what steps she has taken to warn the public of the risks of acanthamoeba and related eye infections to users of extended-wear disposable contact lenses; and if she will review the procedures for warning the public of risks of this nature;
(3) what discussions she has had with representatives of (a) the ophthalmic professions and retail outlets and (b) lens manufacturers about the risks of acanthamoeba and related eye infections from certain types of contact lenses; and which hospitals have supplied her Department with figures relating to such cases.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department has been made aware of the risks of acanthamoeba and related eye infections to users of extended-wear disposable contact lenses from:
- A study published late last year from Moorfield.'s Eye Hospital;
- reports to the Department from the Manchester Eye Hospital, of a number of incidents of extended-wear contact lenses associated keratitis; and
- three separate studies currently being carried out or completed at Moorfield's Eye Hospital. These are not yet fully analysed but preliminary results indicate that the incidence of contact lens associated keratitis is increasing as a result of a number of different factors.
These risks were first brought to the attention of the Department at the end of last year. The Department subsequently asked the College of Ophthalmologists to set up a working party to assess how these risks could be addressed. Since this time, meetings have been held with representatives of the College of Ophthalmologists, the British College of Optometry, the Institute of Optometry, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and the Association of Optometrists. At these meetings it was 848W agreed that information documents should be produced to help both eye care practitioners and the wearers of contact lenses.
A working group has been established under the chairmanship of the Department to discuss the detailed wording of these documents. The next meeting will take place at the beginning of December and this will be followed by discussions with the relevant contact lens manufacturers.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had about the use of disclaimer forms by opticians to deprive extended-wear contact lens users of redress.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNone.