Which Eye Drops Are Being Recalled?

When a company realizes that there are dangerous problems associated with a product they have provided, they may issue a voluntary recall to advise consumers about these risks and to have the product removed from store shelves. 

If companies are found to have ignored safety problems or concerns shared by consumers, the company may be legally forced to recall the items in order to prevent further damage.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the most recent eye drops recall, linking certain brands of eye drops to an outbreak of drug resistant bacteria. These artificial tears are the sources of a 16-state bacteria outbreak that affected at least 68 patients. Eight of those patients have suffered permanent vision loss, four people have had an eyeball surgically removed, and three people have died. 

Consumers use over-the-counter eye drops on a daily basis for mild eye conditions, dryness, or irritation. However, many users are now experiencing more harm than good from the use of these artificial tears.

On February 2, 2023, Global Pharma Healthcare issued a recall for EzriCare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears due to possible contamination. The recall includes all products within expiry. 

Consumers are requested to immediately discontinue using them..

Previously, another recall affected Global Pharma's Delsam Pharma artificial eye ointment on February 24th due to microbial contamination. Apotex has also issued a recall of six lots of their glaucoma drops, Apotex, brimonidine, tartrate, and ophthalmologic solution 1.5%. The company discovered bottles with cracked caps, and while the company has yet to receive reports of negative side effects, this could lead to problems with infection. The Farmedica Purely Soothing 15% MSM drops were also recalled over sterility concerns.

One patient in California visited their eye doctor in the spring of 2022 and was diagnosed with an eye infection. However, multiple cases were identified by local health officials in the coming months and many of the patients had similar symptoms, including heavy yellow pus that blocked the majority of their pupils. When the first patient who received an infection diagnosis went to the hospital, it was determined that bacteria known as pseudomonas aeruginosa was the source of the infection. This bacteria can affect the lungs, blood, and other parts of the body and is especially dangerous because it is resistant to multiple antibiotics. Throughout the remainder of the year, other states began to report cases of the drug-resistant bacteria, including one man who suffered a bloodstream infection that led to fatal injuries. Florida and Utah cases also emerged with similar situations.

Eye drops contaminated by pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in the blood, lungs, or other body parts after surgery. When present in the eyes, it can cause eye infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye), keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and endophthalmitis (inflammation within the eye). Some cases reported have spread through the body and have even led to death.

Symptoms of eye infections may include:

• Redness and inflammation of the eye
• Pain or discomfort in the eye
• Blurred vision
• Discharge from the eye
• Sensitivity to light

If you have used the recalled products and experience any symptoms, these should be reported to your doctor immediately. Make sure that you bring the eye drops that you believe may have contributed to your problem, as your doctor may be able to review this information and determine if you were using one of the recalled eye drops. It is very important to get medical attention immediately, as this may be your best chance towards stopping the spread of this infection and its resulting problems. 

The support of an experienced and qualified personal injury attorney may be necessary if you've already been diagnosed with the infection and are suffering due to the negligence of manufacturers.

A class action lawsuit may be filed by victims who are seriously hurt by a defective product. This is distinct from a personal injury lawsuit, in which you might allege that one or a handful of parties is responsible for your injuries. In a personal injury lawsuit, you are pursuing an individual case against the responsible entities or people. In a class action lawsuit, however, you are coming together with many other consumers who experience similar problems with the same product and are filing together to hold the company accountable. 

In some situations, a class action lawsuit can include dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people with similar situations. Class action lawsuits are used to consolidate the complexity surrounding legal cases against companies in which many of the claims brought by plaintiffs are related. For example, multiple patients who got infections from these defective eye drops may come together and file a lawsuit to recover compensation as a larger group. The court will streamline the process of these cases by bringing them all together, even though there may be one person who is the lead plaintiff. 

If you are interested in pursuing a lawsuit because of the defective eye drops you used, finding a qualified legal team, like the experienced attorneys at Morgan & Morgan, can be extremely important. 

Your attorney may tell you that your case is being consolidated with other people after you have chosen to bring it forward. In any case, it is highly beneficial for you to retain experienced and dedicated legal assistance from the outset of your legal claim. This will make it much more likely that you are successful in recovering compensation and closing out this chapter of your life. The impact of a serious eye injury can be severe and may follow you for months or years, so you need an attorney who is dedicated to helping you so that you can tend to your recovery.

While the recall itself removes the product from the shelves and issues information about the dangers of the eye drops to the general public, this does not include automatic compensation or protection for your legal rights as a victim. The only way to pursue that is by filing a lawsuit with the help of defective product lawyers. 

A defective product or personal injury lawyer can help you with every aspect of your personal injury claim, from pursuing a lawsuit against the responsible parties to gathering evidence and negotiating settlements on your behalf. 

The experienced lawyers at Morgan & Morgan know how hard it can be to handle these situations on your own, which is why we fight tirelessly for our clients. With over 35 years of experience, we have recovered over $20 billion for our clients and have grown to become the country’s largest personal injury law firm. Our reputation and track record let the other side know that you mean business.

With so much at stake for the future as it relates to your attempt to recover compensation, you cannot afford to leave things up to chance. Reach out to Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to learn more about your options.