Eye drops sold at Walmart are being added to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of potentially dangerous products. Consumers are now being told to avoid the Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop 10 mL, which is already being removed from Walmart store shelves and its online marketplace, due to the potential risk of eye infections that could lead to partial or complete vision loss, according to an updated notice from the FDA.
Last week, federal health regulators first warned consumers to either avoid or throw out 26 other products that were meant to treat dry or irritated eyes after an investigation revealed that there were “insanitary conditions” in the manufacturer’s facility, potentially contaminating the products that are intended to be sterile.
There were also positive bacterial test results from environmental sampling of critical drug production areas in the facility, the FDA said. The agency hasn’t disclosed what bacteria was found and hasn’t tied this warning to the prior outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa linked to eye products from Global Pharma Healthcare.
The 26 previously listed products 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 posted last week. However, regulators cautioned that “products branded as Leader, Rugby and Velocity may still be available to purchase in stores and online.” The FDA didn’t specify the manufacturer, but several companies noted that Velocity Pharma supplied the products.
There haven’t been any reports of eye infections related to these products to date. However, consumers who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products are told to seek medical care “immediately.”
Symptoms of an eye infection include irritated or red eyes; worsening pain in or around the eyes — even after contact lens removal; light sensitivity; sudden blurry vision; or unusually watery eyes or discharge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
