Hoya Surgical Optic Intraocular Lenses Recall

Back in 2013, Hoya group initiated a recall when it was reported that users were having adverse effects from surgically implanted optic lenses.

These lenses are like permanent contact lenses that are fused onto the eye. It’s a medical device commonly used for patients with cataracts or myopia where the lens may have deteriorated. However, many users came forward saying they had symptoms such as:

These early on symptoms, if left untreated, could lead to an acute inflammatory response which would require lengthy medical treatment. In two much more serious cases, acute bacterial endophthalmitis was reported. This condition can cause permanent loss of vision or even loss of eye entirely.

Hoya responded by voluntarily initiating a recall of these lenses:

They stopped shipping these lenses and asked doctors and medical institutes to send any stock back to Hoya. The Japanese company, based in Singapore, looked into the lenses and found “trace residual foreign particles” that may or may not be the culprit in the adverse effects. According to the Royal College of Orthalmologists, the lenses may affect 0.03%-0.3% of users. However, it seems like Hoya are taking no chances as they pulled all stock for the suspected lenses.

The Medical Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also produced a medical device alert for the lenses to stop them from being used on patients in the UK. Hoya additionally decided to stop shipping the Toric 311 and the iSert Toric 351 lenses too as they used a similar manufacturing process to the original three lenses being recalled. Hoya has plans to continue manufacturing the five lens types once they have received approval by regulators.

Thanks to Hoya’s willingness to act upon their findings and to voluntarily initiate a recall, many users may have been prevented from using the suspected defected lenses. However, for those that the recall came too late for, those victims may be eligible for recovering compensation from Hoya for their negligence during the manufacturing process.

Companies normally have insurance policies for this sort of thing. It’s expected the Hoya will be met by multiple claims for financial compensation from those who have already had the recalled lenses implanted in their eyes. Claimants may have already suffered symptoms and received treatment, or have had surgery to remove the lenses to prevent such symptoms. This type of systematic and potentially widespread effect of negligence may prompt a group action being brought against Hoya.

If you have been affected by this, our Group Action Lawyers can help you. Please contact us on 0800 634 75 75 for help and advice.