CooperVision is asking consumers to check lot numbers on Avaira Toric CLs.
PLEASANTON, Calif —In a statement released on Oct. 12, CooperVision, Inc., a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO), said it is continuing to work with the FDA, distributors, customers, eyecare practitioners and lens wearers to complete the recall initiated on Aug. 19, 2011 on certain lots of Avaira Toric contact lenses.

CooperVision stated, “We have ongoing relationships with practitioners to continue to identify all the affected lots in the market. To date, the recall has impacted approximately 600,000 Avaira Toric contact lenses in the U.S.” The company added, “The efficient and effective implementation of this recall remains a priority for CooperVision.”

"Our first priority is always the health and safety of all CooperVision lens wearers and as such we responded quickly to complaints from our customers by initiating a voluntary recall," said Christine Moench, vice president, global regulatory affairs and quality assurance. "We want to ensure that all consumers are aware of this action and know where to go for more information."

CooperVision stated to consumers and patients, “If you wear Avaira Toric contact lenses and experience any symptoms, CooperVision recommends that you stop wearing the lenses immediately. Contact your eyecare practitioner for advice. If you wear Avaira Toric contact lenses and are not experiencing symptoms, CooperVision recommends that you: Go to the CooperVision recall web page at www.coopervision.com/recall, and enter the lot number of your package to determine whether your lenses have been recalled. Alternatively, you may contact us on our toll-free consumer hotline (1-855-526-6737). If your lenses have been recalled, return your lenses to your eyecare practitioner or point of purchase.

The recall was initiated because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lots of Avaira Toric lenses, which may cause temporary hazy vision and discomfort. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms. Since the initiation of the recall the company has received some additional complaints of severe eye pain. Avaira Toric contact lens wearers that experience any symptoms should stop wearing the lenses immediately and speak with their eyecare practitioner.

As part of the recall, CooperVision said it notified its customers and requested eyecare practitioners contact their patients regarding this recall. Because CooperVision lenses are sold through distributors and eyecare practitioners, communication efforts have been focused through these channels in order to most effectively reach lens wearers, the company said, noting that within the first two weeks of the initiation of the recall on Aug.19, 2011, CooperVision:

• Sent worldwide recall notifications to more than 9,000 Avaira Toric CooperVision customers.
• Contacted more than 7,000 U.S. eyecare practitioners who have received or sampled Avaira Toric contact lenses.
• Issued a press release via GlobeNewswire from CooperVision's parent, The Cooper Companies, regarding the voluntary recall of limited lots of CooperVision Avaira Toric lenses.
• Included information on the CooperVision website for lens wearers to easily and quickly check if their lenses are impacted at www.coopervision.com/recall, established a toll-free consumer hotline (1-855-526-6737), and included an informational notice on www.coopervision.com.
• Instructed authorized distributors to send back all Avaira Toric products—not just specific lot numbers—so that CooperVision could ensure that affected lenses were removed.
• Provided retailers and distributors access to patient communications materials—including post cards and e-mail messages—to send to Avaira Toric lens wearers impacted by the recall.
• Worked with eyecare practitioners to specifically remove affected lots of Avaira Toric products, by providing them with more than 3,500 customized reports detailing affected lots specific to their location.
• Deployed customer care resources to answer questions from patients, and a specialized team of customer care representatives were made available to contact patients on behalf of eyecare practitioners.