What to know about the latest eyedrops recall

John Shields expects more calls to Allegheny Eye Associates in Lower Burrell from concerned customers after federal regulators issued another recall on eyedrops.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings for 26 over-the-counter eye care products because of the potential for infection that could result in partial vision loss or blindness.

The products are carried by CVS, Rugby (Cardinal Health), Leader, Rite Aid, Target, Velocity Pharma and Walmart.

At Lawrenceville Vision Care in Pittsburgh, optometrist Danielle Staresinic said she understands the worry and anger many people may be feeling at the rounds of recalls.

“For people who are upset, they should be upset,” Staresinic said. “It feels careless that there are products out there that weren’t as well vetted as they should be.”

This latest warning follows another earlier this year, when regulators announced two voluntary recalls of unsterile, preservative-free eyedrops due to an outbreak of bacterial infections.

It’s alarming, but doctors say there are some things to keep in mind.

The two announcements by regulators are a little different, experts said.

The earlier recall stemmed from a specific drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Those cases infected 81 people, including four who died and 14 who lost vision.

The current recall hasn’t been linked with any injuries, coming from “unsanitary conditions” at a manufacturing facility that could potentially lead to eye infections, the academy of ophthalmology said.

Shields, whose office is in Lower Burrell, said it’s a serious issue, but most folks who use artificial tears should be fine.

“We told them if they’re not having negative symptoms, no pain, the chances of problems — even if they’ve used the recalled drops — is extremely low,” Shields said.

The most recent recall is due to problems with the production of products that are supposed to be sterile. Eyedrops carry a greater risk because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses, according to the FDA.

The FDA has a full list of products.

Christopher Starr, associate professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, said the recalls don’t mean that people should forgo using over-the-counter drops, which many folks need for relief from conditions like dry eye and irritations.

“Any lubricating drop that has not been recalled and is still available on pharmacy shelves should be perfectly safe to use and would be reasonable replacement for the recalled drops,” said Starr, who also is a spokesperson for the academy of ophthalmology.

Beyond not using products on the recall list, Starr recommended that people check the date on their eyedrops.

“If they are expired, please discard them, as there is a higher risk of contamination even with nonrecalled, well-manufactured eye drops,” Starr said. “If anyone using these drops has eye discharge, redness or pain, they should see an ophthalmologist immediately.”

Shields notes that it’s important to keep eyedrops stored well, regardless of any recalls.

“If the drops are not expired and the bottle is clean and kept in safe storage conditions, there’s no reason to throw it away unless it’s on the recall list.”

“Even though these are serious issues and some eyedrops need to be recalled, for most patients who use artificial tears, there’s no need to panic,” Shields said. “If you have an infection from these issues, you’ll know.”