FDA warns consumers against using 26 eye drop products because of infection risk
Regulators are urging people to dispose of eye drop products sold under brands such as CVS Health, Rite Aid and Target Up & Up.
This is the second eye drop recall this year, isn't it? The hell is going on?
Unregulated capitalism externality
First recall triggered after people got infections from a few of the products. Second recall after the FDA inspection found the factory had sanitation issues :-( and covers all the products made there.
The eye drops may contain bacteria that could cause eye infections, potentially blinding them, the agency said.
Yeah that would definitely make me stop putting those things in my eyes.
The eye drops seem to be store brand drops from CVS, Rite Aid, and Target.
Visine( get the red out) works by shrinking blood vessels. Your eye is red because you need more blood flow. Don’t use visine.
Saline as needed is the way to go.
I used Refresh single use artifical tears. Massive plastic waste but it's been my go-to since laser eye surgery. Each dosage is individually packaged.
Every ophthalmologist I've seen hates the reusable bottles of eyedrops for various reasons, primarily because they have additives for anti-microbial action. These additives do not help hydrate your eye in any way.
https://www.refreshbrand.com/Products/refresh-plus
Costco sells the 100 pack for 20 bucks.
There are a few brands of preservative free drops that aren't single use now. The applicator on these is different so the preservative is not needed. Granted. I use single use refresh most of the time at home, but I carry a bottle of preservative free when I go out.
Never use Visine. It's likely making your problem worse, especially if you use it chronically. Try Refresh, Systane, or even Blink, they work better and have a variety of options. Including an overnight gel.
I worked as an opthalmic tech for a few years, and anecdotally, my patients had the most success with Systane Gel. I rarely, if ever, use eye drops, but I have a bottle of that and it's very good. Avoid anything that advertises red-eye relief. They can cause acute problems including ACA Glaucoma (Anatomically Narrow Angles can exist in patients who have never seen an optho), at least this is what the drug rep told us (about his own products).
The more popular brands visine and clear eyes are not on the list, so hopefully safe.
Saline
Odd that 25 would be the limit. Luckily I only use 21 eye drop products, so I'm fine.
Lucky! My grocery store only sells 5 different eye drop products.
That's a dead space 2 angle right there
Is it weird that I suddenly feel like I need eyedrops?
My elderly relative who uses eye drops also has regular eye infections. I’ve told her primary caregivers to watch out and maybe stop putting drops in eyes if they can avoid it.
"This is infuriating for a few reasons," Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog at U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Yeeeeaaaaaa 😮💨
Good thing I never cheap out on things related to my vision.
