Eye drops recall: Bottles sold under several brand names may not be sterile, FDA says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling hundreds of thousands of eye drop bottles sold under nine different brand names, including Walgreens, because they may not be sterile.  

According to the FDA, the recall involves eye drops made by Sterling Pharmaceutical Services in Dupo, Illinois. The products include lubricant eye drops, lubricating tears, an eye solution and an ointment. 

List of recalled eye drops

By the numbers:

The FDA says it has recalled a total of 747,844 units of the following products: 

• Cameron Pharmaceuticals Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Eye Lubricant, 0.5 fl oz (15 mL): 19,284 bottles
• AvKare Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%, Lubricant Eye Drops, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL) bottles: 12,864 packs
• AvKare Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5%, Lubricant Eye Drops, two-count twin packs: 107,377 packs
• Reliable-1 Laboratories Sodium Chloride Hypertonicity Ophthalmic Solution, 5%, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 11,083 bottles
• Reliable-1 Laboratories Lubricating Tears, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL): 47,616 bottles
• Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, 0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL) bottles: 301,114 bottles
• Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops, two-count twin packs: 199,600 packs
• TRP The Relief Products Gentle Eyes Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%: 14,538 bottles
• Major LubriFresh P.M. Nighttime Ointment, 0.125 ounces (3.5 g) tubes: 34,368 tubes

What’s a Class II recall? 

The backstory:

According to the FDA, products included in the Class II recall "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," though "the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

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Timeline:

The initial eye drop recall was issued Aug. 20. It was upgraded to a Class II recall on Sept. 21. 

MORE: Recall of popular soft drink hits 77,000 cans after zero-sugar labels found on full-sugar soda

What you can do:

If you have any of the products, check the lot number to see if it’s included in the recall. If it is, you should stop using it immediately. 

Other eye drop recalls

Dig deeper:

On Aug. 1, nearly 12 million bottles of Rohto eye drops were recalled, also over concerns they may not be sterile, according to the FDA. 

RELATED: Major recall issued for popular eye drops as Americans urged to stop using immediately 

The voluntary recall was issued by Vietnam-based Rohto-Mentholatum and includes eye drops marketed to relieve redness, dryness and eye strain.

RELATED: Nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops recalled nationwide over possible contamination

On Aug. 20, nearly 40,000 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops were recalled due to potential contamination. 

Recalls