Eye doctors left woman blind in one eye, suit alleges

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County woman has filed a suit against two local ophthalmologists claiming they improperly treated her for an eye infection, which left her blind in one eye.

Brenda Keefer filed a suit Nov. 5 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Stephen Cassis and James Caudill, two physicians who treated her in 2005 and 2006.

Bausch and Lomb, the manufacturer of contact lens solution ReNu with MoistureLoc, is also named as a defendant.

According to the suit, Keefer claims she received contacts from The Contact Store in South Charleston, in August 2005, and had discomfort after using ReNu and putting the lens in her left eye.

"Keefer suffered with a corneal ulcer, light sensitivity, excessive watering and excruciating pain in her left eye," the suit says.

According to the suit, Keefer was referred to Cassis. Caudill also treated her. Keefer claims she was treated with steroid medication, which made her condition worse.

In December 2005, Keefer was treated for acanthameoba, but it was too late to save her eyes, the suit says.

According to the suit, Keefer underwent a corneal transplant and multiple treatments, but is blind in her left eye.

Keefer claims she suffered severe pain, emotional distress, diminished earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life and severe and permanent physical injuries.

Bausch and Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc solution was recalled in April 2006, after an investigation found it was associated with a rare eye infection called Fusarium Keratitis.

Keefer and her husband James Keefer seek compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Teresa Toriseva is representing Keefer.