Which eye drops have been recalled? Complete list of products affected by several rounds of recalls.

The FDA has expanded its list of recalled eye drops in 2023 because the products may be contaminated with bacteria.

Commercial brand products sold at retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Walmart are included in the latest recall, issued Wednesday by the federal safety agency. THE Kilitch Healthcare India recall cited ‘safety concerns’ after FDA investigators discovered unsanitary conditions at the facility where the products were manufactured.

The FDA cited a “risk of eye infections that could lead to partial loss of vision or blindness.” by warning consumers against the use products now recalled at the end of October. FDA investigators found bacteria in samples taken from the production plant, the agency noted in its warning. As of Nov. 13, Kilitch said it had not received any reports of adverse health effects related to the recall.

Eye drops recalled in most recent cycle

Many eye drops are likely no longer available in stores, as the FDA said CVS, Rite Aid and Target were removing the products from store shelves and websites.

The recall notice urged distributors and retailers to stop selling the products and for consumers to return them.

Eye drops recalled from previous rounds

The FDA warning prompted Cardinal Health in early November to recall six Leader brand eye products, while Harvard Drug Group recalled Rugby Laboratories brand eye drops.

These warnings included the agency in August advise people not to buy “Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution” and “LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair,” claiming they pose serious health risks, including life-threatening and eye infections.

The recalls are among eight such actions involving the FDA and eye drops this year, starting with the announcement in early February that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was investigating a cluster of infections linked to tears artificial.

Federal inspectors found dozens of problems at an Indian manufacturer Global Pharma Healthcare, amid a multistate outbreak of rare, extremely drug-resistant bacteria linked to eye drops manufactured by the company, under the EzriCare and Delsam Pharma brands.

The CDC ultimately identified 81 patients in 18 states. Of those, four people died, 14 reported vision loss and four others required surgical removal of their eyeballs, the agency said in its latest update in May.

How can I make sure my eye drops are safe?

Eye drops must be sterile to be safe and therefore require “much finer oversight on the manufacturing side” to ensure products are not contaminated, Carri Chan, a business professor at Columbia University, said recently. at CBS MoneyWatch.

The FDA maintains a list of eye drops that people should discard. Users can also check an eye drop manufacturer’s website to check if a product has been recalled.

Dr. Christopher Starr, a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said people should seek immediate medical attention if they experience adverse reactions to eye drops, such as discharge, redness or pain, which may indicate an infection. People should also check a product’s expiration date before use.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Kilitch at Regulatory@kilitchhealthcare.com or Velocity Pharma, the distributor of Kilitch, at Regulatory@velocitypharma.com. Eye drop users who experience adverse reactions can file a report with the FDA online or by downloading and submitting a pre-addressed form.

—Elizabeth Napolitano contributed to this report.