Woman files EzriCare eye drop lawsuit after losing eye to infection

EzriCare eye drops lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Clara Elvira Oliva filed a lawsuit against Global Pharma Healthcare, EzriCare, EzriRX and Aru Pharma. 
• Why: Oliva claims she was prescribed EzriCare eye drops that caused her eyes to become infected with the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ultimately required her “remaining good eye” to be surgically removed.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Court in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida.

A 68-year-old woman who lost one of her eyes has filed a lawsuit against India-based Global Pharma Healthcare over claims its EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops product “introduced a dangerous pathogen” into her eye and forced it to be surgically removed.

Clara Elvira Oliva claims the EzriCare eye drops were prescribed to her to treat her eye dryness and irritation, but, instead, allegedly infected her eyes with the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Oliva, who says she is now legally blind, has also named U.S.-based distributors of the EzriCare eye drops, EzriCare, EzriRX and Aru Pharma, in her lawsuit. 

The EzriCare eye drops were recalled in February after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the product to an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that is believed to have infected 68 people in a total of 16 states, USA Today reports. 

Three people have reportedly died in connection with the outbreak of the rare and extensively drug-resistant bacteria, with an additional four reports of enucleation, according to the CDC. 

Doctors left with no choice but to surgically remove plaintiff’s ‘remaining good eye,’ suit says

Oliva claims her right eye became swollen and red following months of using the EzriCare eye drops, and that, following more than 10 trips to the doctor, a sample ultimately showed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 

Ultimately, Oliva says doctors had no choice but to remove her eye, after it was determined that her infection had spread beyond the point of being able to replace part of her cornea with donor tissue. 

“On September 1, 2022, Mrs. Oliva’s right eye was surgically removed and replaced with a plastic implant,” the EzriCare lawsuit states. “Given her decreased visual acuity of 20/200 in her remaining left eye, Mrs. Oliva is now legally blind.”

Oliva is demanding a jury trial and requesting a judgment against the defendants and requesting an award of damages. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the EzriCare eye drops recall last month to include Delsam Pharma Artificial Eye Ointment over concerns the products may have become cross-contaminated. 

The plaintiff is represented by Natasha S. Cortes, Alex Arteaga-Gomez and Ryan J. Yaffa of Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen PA. 

The EzriCare eye drops lawsuit is Oliva v. Global Pharma Healthcare Private Ltd., et al., case number unknown, in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida. 

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