New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson has issued recall of millions of 1 Day Acuvue TruEye contact lenses sold in Japan and 24 other countries in Asia and Europe.

It is the 9th recall by the health giant in a year.

The company has received complaints from customers in Japan that the lenses caused them unusual stinging or pain.

The problem occurred due to the failure of a piece of manufacturing equipment during a procedure when the lenses are rinsed.

A substance used in the manufacturing process was not properly removed during the rinse.

According to the company, around 100,000 boxes containing either 30 or 90 lenses in each box were affected.

No recall has been made in US and Canada as affected lenses were not sold there.

The affected lenses which was not yet shipped, has been destroyed.

The customers are asked to compare the lot number on the package being purchased with the affected lot numbers published in J&J Web sites.

The affected lenses should be returned to get replacement lenses.

Since September 2009, Johnson & Johnson has issued eight recalls of nonprescription medicines in the U. S.