The FDA recently issued a warning against the use of 26 different eye drop products due to the risk of infection. This comes on the heels of another recall of 27 eye drop products, including store-brand items from major retailers like CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart. Kilitch Healthcare India is recalling eye drops with expiration dates between November 2023 and September 2025, following the discovery of potential safety concerns and insanitary conditions during an FDA investigation.
The FDA has listed all recalled eye drops and has emphasized the risk of eye infections that could lead to partial vision loss or blindness. The agency’s investigators found unsanitary conditions and positive bacterial test results during their inspection of an unidentified manufacturing facility. Several retailers, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Target, have already removed the products from their stores and websites and the recall notice urges distributors and retailers to stop distributing the recalled products.
Consumers are advised to discontinue the use of the recalled eye drops and return them to the place of purchase. Bloomberg News reported that Kilitch’s eye drops were manufactured in unsanitary conditions in India, where workers were barefoot and some workers falsified test results claiming the products were sterile. The FDA’s warning also led to recalls by Cardinal Health and Harvard Drug Group of their respective eye drop products.
This recent recall adds to the string of eye drop product recalls earlier this year, some of which have been linked to deaths and cases of vision loss. In light of these developments, it’s crucial to stay informed about the safety of the products we use.
