12 South Florida Seniors Go Blind After Tainted Injections

Twelve senior citizens in South Florida have lost their vision after being injected with tainted medication. The Department of Health claims a contaminated batch of medication and syringes was distributed to various medical clinics in the area...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

July 21, 2011

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Twelve senior citizens in South Florida have lost their vision after being injected with tainted medication. The Department of Health claims a contaminated batch of medication and syringes was distributed to various medical clinics in the area.

"The eye infections are associated with the receipt of a particular medication and particular batches of syringes of this medication," an unidentified doctor told WSVN.

The drug is question was Avastin, which is used to treat macular degeneration, a disease that targets the eyes. Authorities aren't sure whether the drug itself or the syringes used to inject the medication were contaminated. However, they believe that strains of streptococcus are to blame for the blindness.

Some of the patients might eventually regain sight, but at least one 81-year-old patient has already hired an attorney.

The medication has been isolated, and the Department of Health has taken steps to ensure that no one else is affected.

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