What are the eye drop recalls and why were they used?

FDA recalls regarding several brands of eye drops have been making headlines lately and have left many people wondering what exactly is going on. Essentially, the recalls were issued due to concerns over contaminated eye drops. Specifically, the recalls affect certain over-the-counter eye drops and ointments manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare, Pharmedica, and Apotex. Following an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into a series of bacterial infections that spanned multiple states and were suspected to be linked to the use of tear drops, a recall was initiated. The recall was prompted by 68 reported incidents of negative reactions to the drops, such as eye infections, irreversible vision impairment, and even three deaths resulting from a bloodstream infection.

What brands of eye drops have been recalled?

Global Pharma Healthcare issued a recall on February 2, 2023, for its EzriCare and Delsam Pharma brands due to potential bacterial contamination. The recall was initiated following an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into a series of bacterial infections that spanned multiple states and were suspected to be linked to the use of the eye drops. Global Pharma Healthcare warned consumers that using the contaminated eye drops could lead to blindness and advised them to immediately stop using the drops.

Additionally, on February 24, Global Pharma issued another recall for one batch of Delsam Pharma’s “Artificial Eye Ointment” due to possible microbial contamination. Although using the contaminated ointment could cause infections leading to blindness, the company had not received any reports of injuries related to the product.

On March 1, Apotex also issued a recall for several lots of its own brand of glaucoma drops, called “Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%,” due to concerns that cracks in some of the units’ caps could compromise the drops’ sterility and lead to infection. The company has observed four bottles with cracked caps, but there have been no reports of negative health outcomes related to the product. Apotex initiated the recall “out of an abundance of caution.”

Finally, on March 3, Pharmedica USA recalled two lots of “Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops” over sterility concerns. The pharmaceutical company warned that using the contaminated eye drops could lead to blindness, but it had not received any reports of infection or illness related to its product.

What should you do if you’ve used these drops?

If you’ve used these drops, it’s important to understand the potential effects and what steps you should take. These eye drops have caused blurry vision, eye pain and discomfort, redness and irritation, vision loss, and in some cases, deaths have been reported. The first thing you should do if you’ve used any of these brands or products is call Gomez Trial Attorneys for a free, no obligation case evaluation. Their team of experienced lawyers will work with you to see if you have been injured because of these recalled eye drops. If you have had any reported issues with these drops, it’s imperative that you call immediately.