Over the past few months, there have been multiple recalls on over-the-counter eyedrop products. While eyedrops can be sold over the counter, they still need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as anything applied to the eyes can bypass one’s natural defenses and the risk of infection1.
The FDA has issued a string of eyedrop recalls due to increasing safety concerns. Upon inspection, the FDA found these eyedrops to be produced in unsanitary environments where they have been exposed to different types of bacteria1.
Recall Updates
Back in the fall of 2023, several brands were recalled showing signs of bacteria that can cause eye infections that may lead to partial or complete blindness. Some of the common brands that were selling these products include: CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health), Rite Aid, Target Up & Up, and Velocity Pharma2.
As of January 2024, there have been three new products added to the total list for potential risk of eye infection. These over-the-counter brands include South Moon, Rebright, and FivFivGo drops, all of which have been branded to look very similar to Bausch and Lomb’s Authentic Lumify eye drops. These drops were being marketed as a treatment for glaucoma, which cannot be treated with eyedrops. While only the South Moon eye drops tested positive for bacteria, the FDA is recommending that consumers do not purchase these products since they were not originally approved for use. The reports of adverse effects include eye irritation, pain, and infection3.
Tips to Protect Yourself
To avoid any issues, the FDA recommends the following:
- Always wash hands before touching eyes and using eye drops
- Do not use products that claim to treat glaucoma, cataracts,
macular degeneration or retinopathy because these conditions
cannot be treated by eye drops - Do not use products that are homeopathic, they are not
approved for sale - Do not use products that contain the following ingredients:
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM, and silver sulfate or argentum
(can damage white of eyes) - Do not continue use if you develop any pain, discomfort or
discharge1 - Check with a healthcare professional about usage
- Make sure to review the comprehensive list of recalled eye
drops we have provided in the next section1
To see the full list of recalled eyedrops click here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk eye
To report an issue about a product to the FDA, use the link provided: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program
Sources:
1: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/what-you-should-know-about-eye-drops
2: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye
3: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-contaminated-copycat-eye-drops