02/08/2023
Eyedrops Linked to Vision Loss and Serious Infections
EzriCare Artificial Tears have issued a recall citing “potential microbial contamination”
The FDA issued an urgent alert warning consumers and the health care community not to use or purchase EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears due to “potential bacterial contamination.” Health officials say that several people have lost their vision after using the over-the-counter eye drops and dozens of others have come down with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection.
EzriCare Artificial Tears linked to unprecedented outbreak
The CDC is currently investigating the multistate outbreak linked to a potential microbial contamination in EzriCare’s lubricant eye drops – used to treat dry eyes. The cluster of infections involves a rare strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The specific strain behind the outbreak – labeled Verona Integron-mediated Metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) and Guiana-Extended Spectrum-β-Lactamase (GES)-producing carbapenem-resistant (VIM-GES-CRPA) - is so rare that the agency has never seen it before in the United States.
Unfortunately, this bacterium is resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, a drug used to treat complex bacterial infections, making the infections even more difficult to cure. Because of this resistance, there is even more urgency to get the product out of the hands of the public because the infection will require more serious care than a standard antibiotic. To date, the outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has affected at least 55 people across a dozen states. Injuries include eye infections, permanent vision loss, and one death as the infection entered the individual’s bloodstream.
Manufacturer recalls and CDC recommends discontinuing EzriCare eye drops
On February 2, 2023, the manufacturer, Global Pharma Healthcare, issued a voluntary nationwide recall prompted by the FDA due to the company’s violations, including lack of appropriate microbial testing, formulation issues, and lack of proper controls concerning tamper-evident packaging. The recall requests wholesalers, retailers and customers who have the product to discontinue use. The eye drops were sold on Amazon and at Walmart, among other big-brand stores.
While research by the CDC is still ongoing, the agency urges patients “who have used EzriCare preservative-free artificial tears and who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection [to] seek medical care immediately.”
Filing an EzriCare Eye Infection Lawsuit
If you or a loved one suffered from and eye infection and related complications by using EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant you may have claim against the manufacturer. At Meyers & Flowers, our attorneys have extensive experience handling dangerous drugs and defective devices claims, and we have the results to prove it. Contact our team at [email protected] or 630-232-6333 for your free, no obligation case evaluation.