Woman files suit against doctors for eye infection

11/07/2007 - A Charleston woman has filed a lawsuit against two local ophthalmologists, contending they didn't properly treat her for an eye infection that left her blind in one eye.

Brenda Keefer filed the lawsuit Monday in Kanawha Circuit Court, naming Dr. Stephen Cassis and Dr. James Caudill as the physicians who treated her in 2005 and 2006.

The suit also names Bausch and Lomb, manufacturer of a recalled contact lens solution called ReNu with MoistureLoc.

In the complaint, Keefer said she received new contact lenses from The Contact Store in August 2005 and had discomfort after using the solution and putting a lens in her left eye.

"Beginning in 2005, plaintiff Brenda Keefer suffered with a corneal ulcer, light sensitivity, excessive watering and excruciating pain in her left eye," the lawsuit says.

Keefer sought help from optometrist Dr. Melvin L. Mann, who referred her to Dr. Cassis. Dr. Caudill also treated her, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, the eye doctors at first treated Keefer with a steroid medication, which made her condition worse.

In December of 2005, she was treated for a condition called acanthameoba, but it was too late to save her eye, the lawsuit says.

Keefer has undergone a corneal transplant and multiple treatments, but is blind in the left eye.

According to the complaint, Keefer "has suffered and is suffering severe pain, emotional distress, diminished earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life and severe and permanent physical injuries."

The lawsuit also says Keefer has "incurred and will incur expenses for her medical care and treatment, lowered life expectancy, embarrassment and humiliation."

Bausch and Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc solution was recalled in April 2006 after an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found it was associated with a rare eye infection called Fusarium Keratitis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 181 cases of the infection were reported in 36 states. West Virginia is not listed among those states.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Bausch and Lomb regarding the solution, many of them alleging the product led to a loss of vision.

Dr. Caudill said he could not comment on pending litigation.

Karen McElhinny, attorney for Dr. Cassis, said the physician had not yet been served with a copy of the complaint but would vigorously contest all allegations.

"He fully expects that the court will dismiss all claims against him," she said.

Keefer did not respond to phone calls.

Her husband, James Keefer, is also listed as a plaintiff in the case, claiming her injury caused him to lose "spousal services, society and companionship."