|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Consumers have been left in a state of unease as dozens of eye drops and ointments have been yanked from store shelves due to a series of recalls spanning 2023 and 2024. According to a report on Thursday in the New York Times, tese recalls have prompted questions about the safety of products commonly used to alleviate dry or irritated eyes.
The most recent recall was initiated by Brassica Pharma, a pharmaceutical company, which withdrew four eye ointments from circulation. These products were previously available at major retailers such as Walmart and CVS. As was reported by the NYT, the recall was prompted by an inspection conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which identified potential sterility issues in the ointments. It’s worth noting that there have been no reported health problems associated with the use of these ointments.
Despite the apprehension caused by these recalls, experts suggest that they actually demonstrate the effectiveness of health safety protocols. Speaking to the NYT, Dr. Tim Corson, a specialist in eye disease drug development at the University of Toronto, suggests that the recent uptick in recalls is primarily attributable to intensified oversight efforts by regulatory agencies, particularly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As in-person FDA inspections have resumed following a decline during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, more issues with manufacturing processes have come to light.
The majority of the recalled products have been over-the-counter eye drops and ointments, including so-called “copycat” versions that mimic popular brands but lack FDA approval, as was noted in the NYT report. These unauthorized products often make misleading health claims and pose a risk to consumers.
Eye-care products are particularly susceptible to contamination and health hazards due to their direct application to the eye. Also speaking to the NYT was Dr. Gary Novack, a clinical professor of ophthalmology and vision science at UC Davis School of Medicine, who noted that regulatory scrutiny has intensified following a significant recall of imported eye drops in February 2023. This recall, which affected numerous eye-care products contaminated with bacteria, resulted in 14 cases of vision loss and at least four deaths, the NYT report said. Some patients even required surgical intervention to remove their eyes, highlighting the potentially severe consequences of using contaminated eye-care products.
The adverse outcomes associated with contaminated eye drops and ointments can range from minor irritations to severe, sight-threatening infections, and in rare cases, even life-threatening complications, according to the information provided in the NYT report. Despite these risks, experts emphasize that such serious issues remain relatively uncommon.
If you’re uncertain about the safety of your eye drops or ointments, the first step is to check the FDA’s recall list. If your product is listed, dispose of it promptly and refrain from further use. Symptoms such as eye pain, redness, blurry vision, or increased sensitivity to light should prompt an immediate visit to an eye doctor, as they may indicate an infection, as per the information in the NYT report. Dr. Christopher Starr, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine underscored the importance of seeking medical care for these symptoms, regardless of whether you’ve used a recalled product.
However, the NYT report also said that Dr. Starr emphasized to the NYT that individuals need not discontinue the use of their eye drops or ointments solely due to recall concerns.
