Another day, another recall! United States health officials and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have called for a recall of select eyedrops due to contamination risks that could potentially lead to vision loss and serious injury.
Although select brands and types including Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops and Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution have not listed any illnesses or injuries as of yet, the serious risk lies in the contamination of artificial tears increasing possible eye infections that could result in blindness or death, according to the FDA.
This comes shortly after separate recall notices for certain eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex voluntarily pulled their products from the market in February.
Apotex recalled six different prescription eyedrops used to treat a form of glaucoma due to cracks found in a handful of bottle caps.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the February recall was linked to a multi-state outbreak of drug-resistant infections.
As of March 1, the CDC along with state and local health departments recorded 64 patients in 13 states with a rare strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Eight patients have reported a loss of vision and there has been one death, according to the CDC outbreak page. However, there is no indication the two recalls are interrelated.
Pharmedica advised its consumers to immediately stop using their products and return them, while retailers have put a halt to the distribution of the products, returning them to the company shortly after verifying its recall.
For one’s safety, it is advised to check on their eye drop prescriptions and verify that these brands are no longer being used.
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