Eye drop warnings: Don’t use these eyedrops from CVS, Target, Rite Aid and more

Eye drop warnings: Don’t use these eyedrops from CVS, Target, Rite Aid and more

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to not use several brands of eye drops due to the risk of eye infections that could lead to blindness.

The products are marketed under the brands CVS Health, Rite Aid, Target Up & Up, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health) and Velocity Pharma. The products are sold under a variety of names, including Lubricant Eye Drops, Multi-Action Relief Drops and Mild Moderate Lubricating Eye Drops (CVS); Lubricant Eye Drops, Gentle Lubricant Gel Eye Drops and Multi-Action Relief Drops (Rite-Aid); and Up & Up Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops and Up & Up Extreme Relief Dry Eye (Target), among others. You can go here to see a complete list of product names.

The products are intended to be sterile, the FDA said in its announcement, but the agency recommended a recall after an investigation found unsanitary conditions at the manufacturing facility. A sampling in the drug production areas tested positive for bacteria. The FDA said it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the products.

The FDA recommended a recall of all the products and advised consumers to discard them. Anyone with signs or symptoms of an eye infection  – pain, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing or discharge – after using these products should seek medical help.

CVS, Rite Aid and Target are removing the products from their store shelves and websites. Products branded as Leader, Rugby and Velocity may still be available to buy but should not be purchased, the FDA said.