The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use certain brands and types of eye drops due to the possibility of eye infections caused by unsterile products.
While the agency did not explain what infections could be caused, it warned that infections could result in partial loss of vision or even blindness.
“These products are intended to be sterile,” the announcement reads. “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.”
The initial warning specified 26 variations of over-the-counter eye drops. The agency later added another product, bringing the total to 27 different eye drops. The full list of products can be found here.
Distributors of the listed drops include Walmart, Target, Velocity Pharma LLC, and CVS, under multiple brands such as Rite Aid, Target Up & Up, and more.
“FDA recommended the manufacturer of these products recall all lots on October 25, 2023, after agency investigators found insanitary conditions in the manufacturing facility and positive bacterial test results from environmental sampling of critical drug production areas in the facility,” reads the announcement.
No recent adverse effects as a result of these eye drops have been reported, and stores such as CVS, Rite Aid, and Target have already begun removing affected products from their shelves. The FDA warns however that Leader, Rugby, and Velocity brand products may still be available.
Consumers are advised to refrain from using these products further. Those who experience any ill effects are advised to contact the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
The notification is not the only recent warning the FDA has issued over eye drops. The agency issued another warning for eye drops earlier in March after the use of certain eye drops was linked to serious injuries such as vision loss in multiple people, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.