FDA issues recall for 26 eye drop products in CVS, Walmart, Target, Rite Aid. What to know
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling several over-the-counter eye drops due to a potential risk of infection that may lead to partial vision loss or blindness.
The agency issued an alert on Friday that flagged 26 eye care products from retailer brands, such as CVS Health, Walmart, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health), Rite Aid, Target Up&Up and Velocity Pharma.
According to the FDA, federal investigators found harmful bacteria and "insanitary conditions" at a manufacturing facility where several eye drop products are produced.
This newest update follows a series of eye drop recalls the FDA issued earlier this year after federal health investigators found evidence of a dangerous drug-resistant bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
FDA tells consumers: "Stop using eye drops from major brands due to infection risk."
What are all the 26 eye drop products recalled?
CVS Health
Product | Product Information |
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)
Product | Product Information |
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)
Product | Product Information |
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
Product | Product Information |
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
Product | Product Information |
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
Product | Product Information |
Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml (triple pack) | Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v |
Walmart
Product | Product Information |
Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml | Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops |
Are these products still on shelves at retailers?
CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart and Target are removing the products from their store shelves and websites.
Products branded as Leader, Rugby and Velocity might still be available to purchase in stores and online and should not be purchased.
Has anyone been affected by this recent recall?
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.
What were the eye drop recalls earlier this year?
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration in February warned patients and clinicians to stop using EzriCare or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears products following one death from an infection and reactions in dozens of patients.
The products were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare based in India and were recalled over potential bacterial contamination – linked to the multistate outbreak of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that eye drops tainted with the bacteria were linked to the death of at least four people, with dozens more affected across 18 states.
Then in August of 2023, they advised consumers that they should not use Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops.
"Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection," the FDA announced in the recall.
What do I do if I've purchased one of the recalled eye drop products?
People who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately, the FDA says.
The FDA also recommends consumers properly discard these products.
FDA also encourages health care professionals and patients to report adverse events or quality problems with any medicine to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
Complete and submit the report online at Medwatch; or
Download and complete the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: FDA new eye drops recall includes, CVS, 26 brands, risk of infection
