Top-selling eye lubricants, including some sold at CVS and Walmart, have been added to the growing list of potentially contaminated over-the-counter eye products. This is the second emergency recall of eye lubricant products within the year.
Products from a similar eye lubricant recall in 2023 left over a dozen people blind and resulted in some people needing their eyeballs removed.
The latest recall notice was posted on the FDA website in February 2024, pointing to trouble with recalled tubes of eye ointments. The products were made in India and are sold in the U.S..
Here’s the complete list of products the 2024 eye lubricant recall applies to:
- Equate Lubricant Eye Ointment with UPC number 681131395298 and lot numbers A2E0, A2L05, A3B01, A3C01, A3H05
- Equate Stye Lubricant Eye Ointment with UPC number 681131395304 and lot numbers A2D08, A2F02, A2I03, A2L03, A2L04, A3C03, A3C05, A3H01, A3H03
- CVS Health Lubricant Eye Ointment with UPC number 050428634141 and lot numbers A2F03, A2I02, A2L02, A3C04, A3H04
- AACE Pharmaceuticals Lubricant PM Ointment with UPC number 371406124356 and lot numbers A2G01, A2G02, A3F08, A3F09, A3J17, A3J18
The FDA’s recall webpage says “For those patients who use these products, there is a potential risk of eye infections or related harm… Ophthalmic drug products pose a potential heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses.”
Expiration dates of affected tubes range from March 2024 to September 2025. The products were recalled after an inspection by U.S. regulators, which found sterility problems where the eye ointments are made.
This is the latest in a string of recalls affecting more than two dozen eye products due to infection risks. In 2023, officials urgently warned people to stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Ointment. All eye products were made by the same manufacturer.
The initial recall was triggered by products that were linked to bacterial infections affecting 81 people in 18 states. Many of the affected people lived in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
The infections had severe medical consequences and were linked to vision loss in 14 people and the need for surgical eyeball removal in four people.
For the latest recall, consumers who purchased a product on the list can return the item where they bought it. They also can contact Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. with questions about their product at 833-225-9564 or send a message to info@brassicapharma.com.
The FDA says “People who had any problems that may be related to using the eye ointments should contact their health care provider, and bad reactions should be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.”
Check your eye products and return or toss them if they’re on the FDA recall list.
