FDA warns consumers of contaminated eye drops over risk of infection, blindness

The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers to stop using certain over-the-counter eye drops that could cause eye infections. The FDA warning covers 27 eye drop products and includes some marketed under common store brands.

• CVS Health
• Leader (Cardinal Health)
• Rugby (Cardinal Health)
• Rite Aid
• Target Up & Up
• Velocity Pharma

The FDA updated the list of eye drop products on Monday, Oct. 30, to include a brand sold by Walmart. According to the FDA Walmart is removing the product from store shelves and its website.

The FDA said using these products could lead to eye infections and result in vision loss or blindness, although there have been no reported cases of infections so far.

FDA is warning consumers not to purchase and to immediately stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the potential risk of eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or blindness.

For more information & list of products: https://t.co/ngXBwLNOAC pic.twitter.com/T92SH0fMca

— FDA Drug Information (@FDA_Drug_Info) October 30, 2023

The FDA advised manufacturers to recall the products on Oct. 25 after investigators found “unsanitary conditions” and harmful bacteria in the facility that manufactures the eye drops.

“These products are intended to be sterile,” the FDA said. “Ophthalmic drug products pose a potential heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses.”

This marks the latest in a series of warnings and recalls for eye drops issued this year. Since February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported four deaths caused by a drug-resistant bacteria linked to contaminated eye drops from EzriCare and Delsam Pharma.

Anyone affected by the latest recalls is urged to contact the FDA.

“FDA encourages health care professionals and patients to report adverse events or quality problems with any medicine to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program,” an update from the FDA said.