Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is recalling millions of its 1 Day Acuvue contact lenses sold in Japan and 24 other countries in Asia and Europe on manufacturing problems that may cause eye prickling.

The company said that complaints of the lens' negative effects were first reported in Japan, where consumers complained about "abnormal pain or prickling" in eyes after inserting the Acuvue TruEye brand contact lenses.

J&J said that a piece of manufacturing equipment failed during a process when lenses are rinsed, leading to some residue being left behind.

J&J started recalling the lens in Japan after notifying the Japanese government on 18 August.

1-Day Acuvue TruEye is the world's first daily disposable contact lens manufactured using a new breathable silicone hydrogel material called Narafilcon A - an innovative silicone hydrogel material saturated with a locked-in super smooth wetting agent.

The recalled lenses were manufactured in Ireland and the New Jersey-based company said about 100,000 boxes were affected. Each box contains either 30 or 90 lenses each.

The 1 Day Acuvue contact lenses recall will be made in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

The recall in Europe will cover Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.

This is J&J's ninth non-prescription medicine recall this year that includes Tylenol, Benadryl, Motrin and Zyrtec, and other pain relievers. (See: Johnson & Johnson recalls 43 children's drugs)