WARNING!
I hope this article can potentially save a life….or save someone’s vision.
Hard to believe we live in a world where eyedrops could literally kill or blind you, but that’s exactly what’s happening.
And with 4 million readers each month, perhaps I can reach someone before the worst happens.
So please share this far and wide and help me out.
Here’s the scoop:
68 people across the U.S. are now known to have been infected by contaminated eyedrops… Leaving 3 people dead, 8 people blind, and 4 others needing their eyeballs removed according to CDC. pic.twitter.com/kShkBdblPp
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 23, 2023
And here:
Recall on Pharmedica and Apotex eye drops–risks include blindness. Please return any eye drops from these brands you have to your pharmacy!
FDA: Two more eyedrop brands recalled due to risks https://t.co/IH27K8xKHU— Alisa Niksch, M.D. 🌻🌻🌻🐀 (@alisadoc1) March 10, 2023
More here:
https://twitter.com/72powpow/status/1639187617152651264
From ABC News:
U.S. health officials are alerting consumers about two more recalls of eyedrops due to contamination risks that could lead to vision problems and serious injury.
The announcements follow a recall last month of eyedrops made in India that were linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections. One person died and at least five others had permanent vision loss.
There’s no indication the latest recalls are related to those products.
The Food and Drug Administration posted separate recall notices for certain eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex after the companies said they are voluntarily pulling several lots of their products from the market. Both companies said the recalls were conducted in consultation with the FDA.
Pharmedica on Friday said it is recalling two lots of Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops due to problems “that could result in blindness.” The over-the-counter drops are designed to treat eye irritation. The Phoenix-based company said consumers should immediately stop using the drops and return them to the place they were purchased.
The recall affects nearly 2,900 bottles, according to the company. The drops were manufactured in Arizona.
Last week, the FDA posted a separate recall announcement from Apotex recalling six lots of prescription eyedrops used to treat a form of glaucoma. The company said it launched the recall after finding cracks in a handful of bottle caps.
The drops are distributed as Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution. 0.15% and were sold between last April through February.
Apotex said in an email that the eyedrops were manufactured in Canada. The company hasn’t received any reports of injuries related to the drops.
Here are the brands at risk:
FDA recalls 3 brands of eye drops. What patients need to know https://t.co/3msn9MilM9
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) March 23, 2023
Which eye drops have been recalled – and why are they dangerous? https://t.co/LMqe5urc0M pic.twitter.com/cEs4uCU9Kr
— New York Post (@nypost) March 24, 2023
From the NY Post:
Two brands of artificial tears eyedrops have been recalled after a spate of serious infections across several states resulted in multiple deaths and blindness.
Which brands of eyedrops have been recalled so far?
EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears and Artificial Eye Ointment, both over-the-counter brands, were recalled from shelves in February after they were linked to at least 68 cases in 16 states of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an extensively drug-resistant bacterial infection.
How many people have died or lost their vision?
Three patients died from the infection, while eight reported vision loss and another four required enucleation, or the surgical removal of the eyeball, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The particular strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa linked to the outbreak had not previously been identified in the US, the agency said.
The CDC noted that infected patients reported using over 10 kinds of artificial tears, over-the-counter products that lubricate the eyeball and relieve dry eye symptoms.
Look, my advice?
I don’t care WHAT brand you have, if you bought it recently THROW IT OUT!
And wait a while before buying any new ones.
But that’s just me.
From UC Davis:
FDA recalls 3 brands of eye drops. What patients need to know
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently recalled three brands of eye drops, including one that has been linked to serious infections, vision loss and a death. UC Davis Health experts share what you need to know.
Consumers are advised to stop using the following brands and return them to the place of purchase.
Two small white bottles with blue labels and a blue cap shown in front of a small blue box that states Artificial Tears.
EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops has been associated with severe eye infections and should be discarded.
Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops distributed by EzriCare, LLC and DELSAM Pharma. On Feb. 2, the FDA issued a warning not to use EzriCare Artificial Tears because of potential bacterial contamination. The over-the-counter product was associated with severe eye infections in 55 patients, including one death. The infections were caused by a drug-resistant bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%. Apotex Corp. initiated a voluntary recall for six lots of Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution on March 1 due to cracks in the caps. The prescription drops are used for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. No infections have been associated with the product.Purely Soothing 15% MSM Drops. The FDA announced on March 3 that Pharmedica USA was voluntarily recalling two lots of Purely Soothing Drops. This over-the-counter product is being recalled due to non-sterility. There have not been reports of illness or infection related to the product.
In addition to drops, the FDA has also recalled Global Pharma Healthcare Artificial Eye Ointment due to possible bacterial contamination. No infections have been associated with this over-the-counter product.
“If you are using any of these specific products, stop,” said Gary D. Novack, a professor at UC Davis Health. Novack is a clinical pharmacologist with decades of experience in ophthalmic product development.
The UC Davis Eye Center has not seen any cases linked to the EzriCare drops, but infections have been reported in 12 states, including California.
“Using contaminated artificial tears increases the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or serious illness,” Novack said.
Common symptoms of an eye infection include blurry vision, discharge, pain or discomfort, redness of the eyelid or eye, feeling like there is something in the eye, and increased sensitivity to light. “If you have any of these symptoms, please see an eye care professional,” Novack said.
And you gotta love this Tweet:
I am SO glad the FDA recalled these dangerous eyedrops! Can you imagine if they let a product persist in the population that caused death and injury and instead of pulling it, kept on promoting it, even to kids? Man, that would be terrible. https://t.co/Ay52hViznP
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) March 16, 2023
Spot on John Rich!
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