FDA warns consumers against using eye drops from many major brands

FDA eye drop warning overview:

• Who: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to purchase or use more than two dozen over-the-counter eye drop products.
• Why: The eye drop manufacturing facility reportedly tested positive for bacteria that can potentially impair vision when applied to the eye.
• Where: The FDA eye drops warning applies throughout the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers not to purchase or use more than two dozen over-the-counter eye drop products because they may pose a risk of eye infection that could impair vision or cause blindness.

The products included in the FDA eye drop warning include eye drops sold under the following brand names:

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

“These products are intended to be sterile,” the FDA explains in its eye drop warning. “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.”

Consumers who have experienced signs or symptoms of a potential eye infection after using any of the products included in the FDA eye drops warning should talk to their doctors or seek medical care immediately, the FDA says.

Some products included in warning may still be available for sale, FDA warns

The FDA says it urged the eye drop manufacturer to recall all lots after investigators found the facility to be unsanitary. Environmental sampling of some of the production areas in the facility reportedly tested positive for bacteria.

CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart are removing the potentially contaminated eye drops from their shelves and websites, the FDA says. It warns consumers not to purchase Leader, Rugby and Velocity brand eye drops even though they may still be available to purchase online and in stores.

The FDA notes it has not received any reports of eye infection associated with the potentially contaminated eye drops and urges consumers and health care professionals to report any adverse events or quality issues with eye drops or other medicine to its MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting system.

A full list of the products listed in the FDA eye drops warning is available here.

In related eye drop news, CVS faces a class action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertises certain homeopathic eye drop products as safe and effective even though they cannot deliver the promised results.

What do you think about the FDA eye drop warning? Tell us about it in the comments.

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