The FDA has issued a warning to consumers, advising them to steer clear of more than two dozen eye drop products available at major retailers, as they could pose a risk of infections and vision loss.
These eye drops were discovered to have been manufactured in a facility with “insanitary conditions” and carry a “potential risk of eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or blindness.”
According to the FDA, the impacted products are marketed under the brands CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health), Rite Aid, Target Up&Up, and Velocity Pharma. The FDA shared a full list of the 26 products on its website.
The FDA is warning consumers against using more than two dozen eye drop products sold at major retailers including CVS, Target and Rite Aid that carry a “potential risk of eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or blindness.” https://t.co/3NUjGAx81G
— ABC News (@ABC) October 30, 2023
More on the story from Fox Business:
The warnings from the FDA were prompted after investigators discovered that there were “insanitary conditions” in the manufacturer’s facility. There were also positive bacterial test results from environmental sampling of critical drug production areas in the facility, the FDA said.
The FDA did not name the manufacturer, but CVS and Cardinal Health noted that the products in question were supplied by Velocity Pharma.
Federal health officials said CVS, Rite Aid and Target are already removing the products from store shelves and their online marketplaces. However, regulators cautioned that “products branded as Leader, Rugby and Velocity may still be available to purchase in stores and online.”
A spokesperson for CVS told FOX Business in a statement that it immediately stopped the sale of all products supplied by Velocity Pharma within the CVS Health Brand Eye Products portfolio after being notified by the FDA. CVS said that consumers who already purchased it could return the product for a refund.
“We’re committed to ensuring the products we offer are safe, work as intended and satisfy customers, and are fully cooperating with the FDA on this matter,” the CVS spokesperson said.
The Washington Post shares the specific eyedrops that were potentially contaminated:
CVS Health
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)
- Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (single pack)
- Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (twin pack)
- Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml
- Lubricating Gel drops 10 ml
- Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (single pack)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)
- Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)
Rugby (Cardinal Health)
- Lubricating Tears Eye Drops 15 ml
- Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4% Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml
Leader (Cardinal Health)
- Dry Eye Relief 10 ml
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)
- Dry Eye Relief 15 ml
- Eye Irritation Relief 15 ml
Rite Aid
- Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)
- Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)
- Gentle Lubricant Gel Eye Drops 15 ml
- Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml
- Lubricating Gel Drops 10 ml
- Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml
Target
- Up&Up Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops 30 ml
- Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 15 ml (single pack)
- Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 30 ml (twin pack)
Velocity Pharma
- Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml (triple pack)
