Eye Drop Recall: Comprehensive List of Potentially Contaminated Artificial Tear Products
Eye Drop Recall Update as of August 25, 2023: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning, urging consumers to discontinue the use of two brands of eye drops purchased online, namely Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops-Eye Repair. The reason for this advisory is the presence of bacterial and/or fungal contamination in these products. The FDA further states that these eye drops contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an ingredient not approved for use in any legally marketed eye-related drugs or products in the United States.
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No adverse events have been reported so far, but if you experience any of the common signs of an eye infection such as yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, feeling of something in your eye, increased sensitivity to light, or blurry vision, it is crucial to seek medical assistance promptly.
Eye Drop Recall
FDA testing revealed that LightEyes MSM Eye Drops-Eye Repair was contaminated with four different types of bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the strain responsible for earlier recalls and associated outbreaks in March and May. Similarly, Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% solution was found to have both bacterial and fungal contamination, both of which can potentially lead to adverse vision-related symptoms or infections.
If you have either of these products at home, the FDA recommends immediate disposal according to their guidelines for safe disposal of unused or expired medicine. This typically involves dropping off the affected products at a local safe disposal or drug take-back site or following any disposal instructions included in the product’s instruction packet.
As per the FDA, Dr. Berne has verbally agreed to recall the contaminated drops and is offering a refund on the website, stating, “I am doing my own testing with samples using a 3rd party laboratory on all MSM products and will post these results here on Monday. If you have the MSM 5% Lot# 6786, please discontinue using.” On the other hand, the FDA has not received a response from LightEyez at the time of this writing.
In an earlier update dated May 19, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided information regarding an outbreak of the drug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with the use of certain artificial tears. As of May 15, the number of infected patients has risen to 81, with 14 cases of blindness and four cases necessitating surgical eye removal. The number of deaths associated with the outbreak has increased from three to four.
The CDC anticipates the possibility of more infections arising and advises individuals who have used EzriCare or Delsam Pharma’s artificial tears or Delsam Pharma’s artificial eye ointment and are experiencing signs or symptoms of an eye infection to seek immediate medical care.
According to the CDC, symptoms of an eye infection may include yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, feeling of something in the eye, increased sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.
