FDA warns against using 26 eye drop products due to infection risk

The FDA has expanded its list of eye drops recalled in 2023 because the products could be tainted with bacteria.

Store-brand products sold at retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart are included in the latest recall, posted on Wednesday by the federal safety agency. The recall by Kilitch Healthcare India cited "safety concerns" after FDA investigators found unsanitary conditions at the facility where the products were made.

The FDA has cited a "risk of eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or blindness" in cautioning consumers against using the now-recalled products in late October. FDA investigators found bacteria in samples taken from the production plant, the agency noted in its warning.

Eye drops recalled in most recent round

Many of the eye drops are likely no longer in stores, as the FDA said CVS, Rite Aid and Target were removing the products from store shelves and websites.

The recall notice urged distributors and retailers to stop selling the products and for consumers to return them.

Eye drops recalled in previous rounds

The FDA's warning prompted Cardinal Health in early November to recall six Leader brand eye products, while Harvard Drug Group recalled Rugby Laboratories brand eye drops. 

The FDA earlier this year posted a slew of recalls of eye drops linked to four deaths and multiple cases of vision loss. 

Those warnings included the agency in August advising people not to buy "Dr. Berne's MSM Drops 5% Solution" and "LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair," saying they presented serious health risks, including vision- and life-threatening infections. 

Federal inspectors found dozens of problems at another Indian manufacturer, Global Pharma Healthcare Pvt Ltd, in February and March. The inspection came after a multistate outbreak of rare and extensively drug-resistant bacteria linked by eye drops made by the company, which were branded as EzriCare and Delsam Pharma.

How can I make sure my eye drops are safe?

Eye drops must be sterile to be safe, and therefore need "much finer oversight on the manufacturing side" to ensure the products aren't contaminated, Carri Chan, a business professor at Columbia University, recently told CBS MoneyWatch.

The FDA maintains an updated list of eye drop products that people should get rid of. Users can also consult an eye drop manufacturer's website to check if a product has been recalled. 

Dr. Christopher Starr, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said people should seek medical help immediately if they have adverse reactions to eye drops, such as discharge, redness or pain, which can indicate an infection. People should also check a product's expiration date before use.

—Elizabeth Napolitano contributed to this report.

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• Product Recall
• FDA

Kate Gibson

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York.