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Eye drops sold at Walmart are added to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of potentially dangerous products.
Consumers are now advised to avoid the Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop 10 mL, which is already being removed from Walmart store shelves and the online marketplace, due to the risk of eye infections leading to partial or complete loss of the Eyesight could lead to an updated notice from the FDA.
Last week, federal health officials warned consumers for the first time to either avoid or throw away 26 other products used to treat dry or irritated eyes after an investigation found that there were “unsanitary conditions” at the manufacturer’s factory that may have led to contamination of the intended products to be sterile.
According to the FDA, eye drops sold at CVS, RITE AID and TARGET could cause eye infections and vision loss
According to the FDA, there were also positive results from bacterial testing on environmental samples in critical drug production areas of the facility. The agency has not disclosed what bacteria was found, and it has not linked this warning to the previous outbreak of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa linked to Global Pharma Healthcare eye products.
The 26 products listed previously were marketed under the brands CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health), Rite Aid, Velocity Pharma and Target’s Up & Up brand.
CVS, Rite Aid and Target were already in the process of removing the products from store shelves and their online marketplaces when the warning was issued last week. However, regulators warned that “Leader, Rugby and Velocity branded products may continue to be available in stores and online.”
The FDA did not name the manufacturer, but several companies said Velocity Pharma supplied the products.
To date, there have been no reports of eye infections associated with these products. However, consumers who experience signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products are advised to seek medical attention “immediately.”
Symptoms to watch out for
Symptoms of an eye infection include irritated or red eyes, worsening pain in or around the eyes — even after contact lenses are removed — sensitivity to light, sudden blurred vision, or unusual watery eyes or discharge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Patients are encouraged to report any adverse events or quality problems they experience with a medication to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
A person uses an eyedropper to put artificial tears in their eye. (iStock / iStock)
Meanwhile, CVS, which immediately removed the products supplied by Velocity Pharma from the CVS Health Brand Eye Products portfolio after being notified by the FDA, is offering consumers a refund for the product.
“We are committed to ensuring that the products we offer are safe, perform as intended and satisfy customers, and are cooperating fully with the FDA on this matter,” a CVS spokesperson told FOX Business.
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Cardinal Health told FOX Business that it has placed all identified affected eye drop products in its inventory on hold and is working with Velocity Pharma and the FDA to initiate a recall of all affected Rugby Laboratories and Cardinal Health Leader brand eye drop products.
“We are working with Velocity Pharma, the supplier of the affected eye drop products, to gain additional insight into the unsanitary conditions identified by the FDA at the manufacturing facility,” Cardinal Health said in a statement.
Target, Rite Aid, Walmart and Velocity Pharma did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.