Concerns about unsanitary production have led to yet another eye drop recall that is pulling more than two dozen products sold at stores like CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart.
Kilitch Healthcare India is recalling 27 types of lubricating eye drops about three weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to buy or use them. FDA investigators determined the eye drops pose a potential risk of eye infections or related harm due to unsanitary conditions and "positive bacterial test results" at the unnamed facility where they are manufactured.
"These products are intended to be sterile," the FDA said in a statement. "Ophthalmic drug products pose a potentially heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses."
The recall affects eye drops with expiration dates ranging from November 2023 to September 2025. For the full list of recalled products, click here.
“This is certainly the biggest eye drop recall we’ve had in recent history, but it’s not the most serious recall,” said Melissa Miller, the director of pharmacy at the Medical Center of Aurora. “With this recall the FDA has not had any report of patients becoming sick because of the eye drops, but certainly the potential is there.”
Some stores have already begun removing the items from store shelves. Consumers, meanwhile, have been advised to stop using the recalled eye drops and return them to where they were purchased.
“You have the same manufacturing facility that’s making all of these store brands,” Miller said.
So far, there have been no reports of eye infections associated with the eye drops. But, it's still best to check any products you may have at home.
“Each product has its own NDC number and so you can use that number. It’s printed on the bottle or on the box you would purchase at the store, and you can check what you have at home against that list that the FDA puts out,” Miller said.
People are encouraged to report any adverse events or quality problems with the eye drops to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
@scrippsnews Last month, the #FDA warned about more than two dozen over-the-counter eye drops due to risk of infection. Multiple companies have issued voluntary recalls since. Experts explain what you should do if you have eye drops in your cabinet that are part of one of the recent recalls. #EyeDrops #healthtok ♬ original sound - Scripps NewsncG1vNJzZmirk6e2sbzSp5ywq16YvK570q2mq6GVqHytrdOeqq1lla6ybrDRqKdmqpWYrq24jKKlnKSlmbK0eZFwZKmqn5nCpMDSZpitZZOrwG6%2ByK2cZpmZmXqiusNmpKiqlWQ%3D