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  4. FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use certain eye drops from several major brands due to risk of eye infection
  1. Drug Safety and Availability

FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use certain eye drops from several major brands due to risk of eye infection

[11/15/2023] The manufacturer, Kilitch Healthcare India Limited, has issued a voluntary recall for these products. FDA recommends confirming the products on the list the agency provided.

[11/3/2023] Cardinal Health Inc. has initiated a voluntarily recall for all lots of six Leader brand ophthalmic products. The list FDA provided on October 27 included five products branded as Leader. The list has been updated to include the sixth product.

Additionally, Harvard Drug Group LLC also initiated a voluntary nationwide recall for all lots of two Rugby Laboratories brand eye drops.

The agency has updated the list of products to include the national drug codes (NDCs) that have been confirmed. FDA will provide additional information as it becomes available.

[10/30/2023] FDA is updating the list of over-the-counter eye drop products consumers should not purchase or use to include Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop 10 mL sold by Walmart in stores and online. Walmart is removing the product from their store shelves and website.

[10/27/2023] FDA is warning consumers not to purchase and to immediately stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the potential risk of eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or blindness. Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately. These products are marketed under the following brands:

  • CVS Health
  • Leader (Cardinal Health)
  • Rugby (Cardinal Health)
  • Rite Aid
  • Target Up & Up
  • Velocity Pharma

These products are intended to be sterile. Ophthalmic drug products pose a potential heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses.

FDA recommended the manufacturer of these products recall all lots on October 25, 2023, after agency investigators found insanitary conditions in the manufacturing facility and positive bacterial test results from environmental sampling of critical drug production areas in the facility. FDA also recommends consumers properly discard these products.

CVS, Rite Aid and Target are removing the products from their store shelves and websites. Products branded as Leader, Rugby and Velocity may still be available to purchase in stores and online and should not be purchased.

FDA has not received any adverse event reports of eye infection associated with these products at this time. FDA encourages health care professionals and patients to report adverse events or quality problems with any medicine to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:

  • Complete and submit the report online at Medwatch; or
  • Download and complete the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.

Eye Drop Retailers and Product Information

Retailer/Brand Product Product Information National Drug Code (NDC)

CVS Health

Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%

76168-702-15
CVS Health

Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%

76168-702-30
CVS Health

Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (single pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 1%

76168-704-15
CVS Health

Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (twin pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 1%

76168-704-30
CVS Health

Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml

Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5%, Povidone 0.6%, and Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05%

76168-706-15
CVS Health

Lubricant Gel drops 10 ml

Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3%

76168-712-10
CVS Health

Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (single pack)

Propylene Glycol 0.6%

76168-714-10
CVS Health

Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)

Propylene Glycol 0.6%

76168-714-20
CVS Health

Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack) 

Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.25%

76168-711-15

Leader (Cardinal Health)

Eye Irritation Relief 0.5 FL OZ (15 ml)

Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5%, Povidone 0.6% and Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05%

70000-0087-1
Leader (Cardinal Health)

Dry Eye Relief 0.5 FL OZ (15 ml)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 1%

70000-0089-1
Leader (Cardinal Health)

Lubricant Eye Drops 0.5 FL OZ (15 ml) (single)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%

70000-0090-1
Leader (Cardinal Health)

Lubricant Eye Drops 0.5 FL OZ (15 ml) (twin pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%

70000-0090-2 (carton)

70000-0090-1 (bottle)
Leader (Cardinal Health)

Dry Eye Relief 0.33 FL OZ (10 ml)

Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3%

70000-0088-1
Leader (Cardinal Health)

Lubricant Eye Drops 0.33 FL OZ (10 ml)

Polyethylene Glycol 0.6%

70000-0587-1

Rugby (Harvard Drug Group)

Lubricating Eye Drops 0.5 oz (15 ml)

Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4%

0536-1325-94
Rugby (Harvard Drug Group)

Lubricating Tears Eye Drops 0.5 oz (15 ml)

Dextran/Hypromellose 0.1%/0.3%

0536-1282-94

Rite Aid

Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack)

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%

11822-4811-5
Rite Aid

Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack)

Propylene Glycol 0.6%

11822-4811-3
Rite Aid

Gentle Lubricant Gel Eye Drops 15 ml

Hypromellose 0.3%, Glycerin 0.2%, Dextran 70 0.1%

Not provided by the manufacturer
Rite Aid

Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 1%

11822-4540-5
Rite Aid

Lubricating Gel Drops 10 ml

Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3%

11822-4540-3
Rite Aid

Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml

Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5%, Povidone 0.6% and Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05%

11822-2254-3
Target Up&Up Dry Eye Relief 15 ml (twin pack) Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% 76168-800-30
Target Up&Up High Performance Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack) Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3% 11673-522-15
Target Up&Up High Performance Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack) Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3% 11673-522-30

Velocity Pharma LLC

Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml (triple pack)

Propylene Glycol 0.6%

76168-502-30

Walmart

Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop 10 mL

Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% and Propylene Glycol 0.3%

79903-168-01
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