FDA warns consumers against using 26 eye drop products because of infection risk

By Dustin Moskovitz On Oct 31, 2023

Federal regulators are warning consumers to stop using a number of over-the-counter eye drops that may pose an infection risk, marking the latest of several alerts this year against artificial tears.

The notice applies to 26 eye drop products marketed under several store brands, such as CVS Health, Rite Aid and Target Up & Up, in addition to the Leader, Rugby and Velocity Pharma brands, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The eye drops may contain bacteria that could cause eye infections, potentially blinding them, the agency said.

The FDA said it has not received any reports of infections from consumers who have used the suspect products. However, the agency is recommending that manufacturers pull all potentially contaminated products from store shelves.

According to the FDA, federal investigators found harmful bacteria and “insanitary conditions” at a manufacturing facility where several eye drop products are produced.

The agency urged consumers who have purchased the potentially contaminated eye drops to discard them. The FDA said that consumers who think they have suffered an adverse reaction to the lubricants should report their concerns to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

Doctors issue warning over infections caused by contaminated eye drops

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The alert follows a series of eye drop recalls the FDA issued earlier this year after federal health investigators found evidence that several products were contaminated with a dangerous drug-resistant bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eye drops tainted with the bacteria are linked to the death of at least four people, with dozens more affected across 18 states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.

The FDA’s latest warning applies to the following eye drop products sold throughout the U.S.

Retailer/ Label	Product	Product Information
CVS Health	Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (single pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v
Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (twin pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v
Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml	Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops
Lubricating Gel drops 10 ml	Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops
Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (single pack)	Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v
Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)	Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v
Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)	Polyethylene Glycol 400 Eye Drop ‘0.25% w/v
Rugby (Cardinal Health)	Lubricating Tears Eye Drops 15 ml	Hypromellose 2910-0.3% w/v & Dextran 70- 0.1% Eye Drops
Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4% Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml	Polyvinyl Alcohol Eye Drops 1.4% w/v
Leader (Cardinal Health)	Dry Eye Relief 10 ml	Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops
Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Dry Eye Relief 15 ml	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v
Eye Irritation Relief 15 ml	Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops
Rite Aid	Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)	Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v
Gentle Lubricant Gel Eye Drops 15 ml	Hypromellose 0.3%, Glycerin 0.2%, Dextran 70 0.1% Eye Drops
Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v
Lubricating Gel Drops 10 ml	Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops
Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml	Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops
Target	Up&Up Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops 30 ml	Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops
Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 15 ml (single pack)	Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops
Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 30 ml (twin pack)	Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v
Velocity Pharma LLC	Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml (triple pack)	Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v

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