Eye Drop Infection Lawsuit

Dozens of eye drop products have been recalled due to bacteria that can cause severe infections, vision loss, blindness, or even death.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting eye drop induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with a severe eye infection, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Eye Drops Recalled; 6 Reports of Eye Injuries

Rugby® Eye Drops Recall – The Harvard Drug Group, LLC (doing business as Major Pharmaceutical and Rugby Laboratories) has recalled all lots of Polyvinyl Alcohol, 1.4% Lubricating Eye Drops and Lubricating Tears Eye Drops (Dextran/Hypromellose, 0.1%/0.3%) supplied by Velocity Pharma, LLC. These eye drops were linked to three (3) reports of adverse events.
Leader® Eye Drops Recall – Cardinal Health recalled all lots of ophthalmic products supplied by Velocity Pharma, LLC and reported three (3) reports of adverse events related to these products, including reports of vision blurriness, vision loss, and burning eyes.

FDA Warns Consumers Not To Use 27 Eye Drop Products

In October 2023, the FDA warned consumers not to purchase or use 27 eye drop products from major retailers like Target, Walmart, CVS, and others, because they may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.

How Many People Were Injured?

There have been at least 6 reports of people who were injured, including reports of vision blurriness, vision loss, and burning eyes. Three reports involved Leader® eye drops and another 3 reports involved Rugby® eye drops.

Eye Drop Brands Linked to Infection Risk

The eye drops were sold under the following brand-names:

What is the Risk?

People who use these eye drops could develop severe eye infections that could result in partial vision loss or permanent blindness, according to the FDA. Deaths have also been reported in past outbreaks of infections linked to eye drops, due to the infection spreading from the eye into the bloodstream.

VIDEO: Eye Drops Recalled from CVS, Target, Rite Aid

What Happened?

On October 25, the FDA asked the manufacturers of these eye drops to recall all of their products due to “insanitary conditions in the manufacturing facility and positive bacterial test results.” The bacteria was found during tests in “critical drug production areas,” according to the FDA.

Are Your Eye Drops Contaminated?

On October 27, the FDA published a list of eye drops that consumers should not use because they may not actually be sterile.

On October 30, the FDA updated the list to also include eye drops from Walmart. The product is Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop (10 mL). It was sold in Walmart stores and online.

List of Eye Drop Products Consumers Should NOT Use

Walmart Equate Hydration PF Lubricant Eye Drop (10 mL)
CVS Health Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack)
[Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]
CVS Health Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]
CVS Health Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (single pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v]
CVS Health Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml (twin pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v]
CVS Health Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml [Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops]
CVS Health Lubricating Gel drops 10 ml [Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops]
CVS Health Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (single pack) [Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v]
CVS Health Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack) [Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v]
CVS Health Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack) [Polyethylene Glycol 400 Eye Drop ‘0.25% w/v]

Rugby (Cardinal Health) Lubricating Tears Eye Drops 15 ml [Hypromellose 2910-0.3% w/v & Dextran 70- 0.1% Eye Drops]
Rugby (Cardinal Health) Polyvinyl Alcohol 1.4% Lubricating Eye Drops 15 ml [Polyvinyl Alcohol Eye Drops 1.4% w/v]

Leader (Cardinal Health) Dry Eye Relief 10 ml [Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops]
Leader (Cardinal Health) Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (single pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]
Leader (Cardinal Health) Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]
Leader (Cardinal Health) Dry Eye Relief 15 ml [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v]
Leader (Cardinal Health) Eye Irritation Relief 15 ml [Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops]

Rite Aid Lubricant Eye Drops 15 ml (twin pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]
Rite Aid Lubricant Eye Drops 10 ml (twin pack) [Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v]
Rite Aid Gentle Lubricant Gel Eye Drops 15 ml [Hypromellose 0.3%, Glycerin 0.2%, Dextran 70 0.1% Eye Drops]
Rite Aid Lubricant Gel Drops 15 ml [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 1% w/v]
Rite Aid Lubricating Gel Drops 10 ml [ Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops]
Rite Aid Multi-Action Relief Drops 15 ml [Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% w/v & Povidone 0.6% w/v & Tetrahydrozoline Hydrochloride 0.05% Eye Drops]

Target Up&Up Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops 30 ml [Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops]
Target Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 15 ml (single pack) [Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3% Eye Drops]
Target Up&Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye 30 ml (twin pack) [Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Eye Drops 0.5% w/v]

Velocity Pharma LLC Lubricant Eye Drop 10 ml (triple pack) [Propylene Glycol Eye Drops 0.6% w/v]

What Should I Do?

People who have symptoms of an eye infection after using eye drops should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately.

The symptoms of an eye infection may include:

Pain
Eye discomfort
Redness
Itchiness
Watery eyes
Discharge from the eyes (yellow sticky pus)
Eyelashes stick together from discharge
Sensitivity to light
Blurry vision
Fever

Eye Drops Linked to Deadly Infection Outbreak

The FDA crackdown on over-the-counter eye drops comes after a deadly outbreak of infections was linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears. At least 4 people died and 81 infections were linked to these eye drops, which tested positive for antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Pseudomonas.

Do I have an Eye Drop Infection Lawsuit?

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