Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has widened a recall of contact lenses in Japan and other countries because residual traces of an acid have caused stinging or pain in users' eyes — the latest in a series of product recalls for the health-care conglomerate.
J&J, of New Brunswick, N.J., recalled about 492,000 boxes of 1-Day Acuvue TruEye, a type of contact lens intended to be disposed of daily, the company confirmed Wednesday. This follows a recall of about 100,000 boxes of the same product announced in August.
J&J attributed the problem to the presence of decanoic acid, which is used in the lens-manufacturing process but is supposed to be rinsed away from the final product. J&J said residual levels of the acid can cause stinging, pain, redness, tearing and blurred vision when the lens is placed on the eye, but that more serious health consequences such as corneal ulcer are unlikely.
About 75 percent of the recalled products were distributed in Japan, said Gary Esterow, spokesman for J&J's Vistakon vision-care unit. Other countries in the latest recall included Australia, Hong Kong, U.K., France, Germany and Canada.
Versions of the product sold in the U.S. weren't affected by the recall because they are made with a different material.
The U.K. Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency posted a recall notice online Wednesday, but J&J said it had issued recall notices in various countries beginning in late October.
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