The food and drug administrationÊs role in establishing and maintaining safeguards for contact lenses and contact lens care products

The outbreaks of infectious keratitis in 2006 and 2007 alerted eye care providers and the FDA to emerging concerns in the evolving landscape of CLs and their care products. By better understanding the factors involved in these outbreaks the FDA has been able to develop a program designed to mitigate future outbreaks of microbial keratitis. Although it is unknown as to what organism may account for future outbreaks of infectious keratitis previous outbreaks have confirmed the importance of improving our understanding of lens and lens care product interactions and encouraging appropriate consumer hygiene. The FDA's comprehensive research program together with effective consumer outreach will assist FDA in its mission to protect the ocular health of the public.