Washington – Regulators health officials from United States warned consumers not to use more than twenty different varieties of over-the-counter eye drops due to the risk of infections that can result in vision loss.
The recommendation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes lubricating eye drops from six companies: CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid, and Cardinal Health, among others. Consumers should stop using these products immediately and avoid purchasing any remaining items of this type in pharmacies and stores, said the agency in a statement released on Friday.
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Last week, the FDA requested that these companies withdraw their products from the market because agency inspectors found unsanitary conditions and bacteria in the manufacturing facility. The FDA did not disclose the location of the factory or the inspection date.
At the time of the announcement, no infections related to the products had been reported, but the FDA encouraged doctors and patients to submit their cases through the agency’s online reporting system.
This year, federal officials linked an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to eye drops from two companies: EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. According to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 80 people in the United States tested positive for ocular infection caused by a rare bacterial strain.
After the products were withdrawn from the market in February, health inspectors visited the plant in India where the drops were manufactured and discovered problems with the way they were made and tested, including inadequate sterilization measures.
In conclusion, federal health regulators in the United States have issued a warning to consumers regarding the use of certain over-the-counter eye drops. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised against the use of more than 20 varieties of these drops due to the risk of infections that can lead to vision loss. The recommendation includes lubricating drops from CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid, and Cardinal Health, among others. The FDA has urged consumers to immediately stop using these products and to avoid purchasing any remaining items of this kind from pharmacies and stores. The FDA had previously requested these companies to remove their products from the market as inspectors found unsanitary conditions and bacteria in the manufacturing facility. No infections related to these products have been reported so far, but the FDA encourages doctors and patients to report any cases through their online reporting system. This year, an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was linked to eye drops from two companies, EzriCare and Delsam Pharma, with over 80 people in the US testing positive for ocular infection. After the products were recalled in February, sanitary inspectors visited the manufacturing plant in India and discovered issues with the production and testing processes, including inadequate sterilization measures. It is crucial for consumers to prioritize their eye health and follow the FDA’s recommendations to prevent any potential complications.
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