Malaysia has ordered all contact lens solution companies to prove the safety of their products after concerns about a series of fungal eye infections similar to those in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Health Ministry's director-general, Ismail Merican, said the ministry had held a meeting with manufacturers today to make the request.

"We are asking all of them to give us evidence of safety within a week," Ismail told AFP.

A major eye hospital has reported 14 cases of corneal infections since early this year, all of them related to contact lens solution.

The Health Ministry has said patients in six of the 14 cases had used a brand called ReNu made by US company Bausch & Lomb. The others used a combination of ReNu and other brands marketed by the company in Malaysia called Alcon and Complete.

Cases reported

Cases of corneal infections related to contact lens solution, many of which are related to ReNu, have been reported in Singapore and Hong Kong in recent months.

Bausch & Lomb has voluntarily suspended sales of ReNu in those two countries, while the company in Hong Kong has said it will accept new or unopened bottles of ReNu from customers.

Bausch & Lomb Malaysia is expected to issue a statement on the health scare later in the day.