Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to ensure that the packaging of contact lens products displays (a) clear warnings of the risks of acanthamoeba keratitis and (b) advice on how to prevent that infection.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety of all healthcare products in the United Kingdom.

The MHRA has investigated acanthamoeba keratitis infections associated with water and contact lenses and has reviewed the instructions for use for all contact lenses on the UK market. While some already provide appropriate warnings and preventative advice, others require improvement. We are considering how best to achieve this under the powers being created for the new UK medical devices regulatory regime and as we address recommendations from the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.

We have also worked with various stakeholders and patient representatives to provide information to the public on the risks associated with acanthamoeba keratitis infections.

This engagement has resulted in information for contact lens users being provided on the MHRA’s website.