Advanced Medical Optics
Encyclopedia
Abbott Medical Optics Inc. earlier known as Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (also known as AMO) is a global medical supply company. Products in the ophthalmic surgical line include intraocular lenses, laser vision correction systems, phacoemulsification systems, viscoelastics, microkeratomes and related products used in cataract and refractive surgery. AMO is based in Santa Ana, California, and employs approximately 4,200 worldwide. The company has operations in 24 countries and markets products in approximately 60 countries.
AMO was spun off from Allergan
in 2002.
AMO bought Irvine-based IntraLase Corp. for $808 million in January 2007. This allowed AMO to combine IntraLase technology for cutting a flap in the cornea with AMO technology for reshaping the cornea. The combination of these complementary technologies has made "all-laser LASIK
" possible. NASA later approved this all-laser LASIK for use on astronauts.
In August 2007 the company donated $2.5 million to UC-Irvine's Department of Ophthalmology to boost the university's planned Eye Institute.
In February 2009 Abbott
completed its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics
In May 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
linked AMO MoisturePlus eye solution to Acanthamoeba keratitis infections. AMO announced a recall on Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution on May 28, 2007. The solution has been linked to cases of an eye infection (keratitis) caused by an organism of the genus Acanthamoeba. The Company was sued in June 2007 by Michael Connolly, who claimed to have developed a keratitis infection after using AMO's MoisturePlus solution.
On June 20, 2009 The Associated Press published an article titled, "Contact Solution Maker Failed to Report Problems". The article states, Complaints about a contact lens solution linked to a 2007 outbreak of eye infections that blinded several people went unreported by the manufacturer for more than a year, government documents show. The documents show Advanced Medical Optics received complaints about the solution more than a year before it was recalled, and failed to promptly report nine complaints as required by law.
There are still many on-going class action law suits against AMO, claiming the non-sterile contact lens solution has caused injury and complete blindness in some cases.
History
AMO (originally American Medical Optics) started business in 1976 in the early development of intraocular lenses for cataract patients.AMO was spun off from Allergan
Allergan
Allergan, Inc., is a global specialty pharmaceutical company. Their product ranges include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, dermatology products, and neurological products.-Profile:...
in 2002.
AMO bought Irvine-based IntraLase Corp. for $808 million in January 2007. This allowed AMO to combine IntraLase technology for cutting a flap in the cornea with AMO technology for reshaping the cornea. The combination of these complementary technologies has made "all-laser LASIK
LASIK
LASIK or Lasik , commonly referred to simply as laser eye surgery, is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism...
" possible. NASA later approved this all-laser LASIK for use on astronauts.
In August 2007 the company donated $2.5 million to UC-Irvine's Department of Ophthalmology to boost the university's planned Eye Institute.
In February 2009 Abbott
Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is an American-based global, diversified pharmaceuticals and health care products company. It has 90,000 employees and operates in over 130 countries. The company headquarters are in Abbott Park, North Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded by Chicago physician, Dr....
completed its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics
Voluntary recalls
AMO voluntarily recalled some of their products in 2006 due to a bacterial contamination in the factory process which would have compromised sterility. Non-sterility of a contact lens solution may have serious health consequences, including eye infection and microbial keratitis. The voluntary and limited recall was caused by an isolated production line problem that affected two of the four production lines in the AMO facility, not because of a formulation issue.In May 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
linked AMO MoisturePlus eye solution to Acanthamoeba keratitis infections. AMO announced a recall on Complete MoisturePlus contact lens solution on May 28, 2007. The solution has been linked to cases of an eye infection (keratitis) caused by an organism of the genus Acanthamoeba. The Company was sued in June 2007 by Michael Connolly, who claimed to have developed a keratitis infection after using AMO's MoisturePlus solution.
On June 20, 2009 The Associated Press published an article titled, "Contact Solution Maker Failed to Report Problems". The article states, Complaints about a contact lens solution linked to a 2007 outbreak of eye infections that blinded several people went unreported by the manufacturer for more than a year, government documents show. The documents show Advanced Medical Optics received complaints about the solution more than a year before it was recalled, and failed to promptly report nine complaints as required by law.
There are still many on-going class action law suits against AMO, claiming the non-sterile contact lens solution has caused injury and complete blindness in some cases.
Abbott acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics
- On February 26, 2009 Abbott announced that it has completed its acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO).
- AMO is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott and has been renamed Abbott Medical Optics Inc.