Recalled Eye Drops Are Causing Infections, Blindness, and Death

In recent months, four eye drop products have been recalled due to risk of health complications. Many of the products were contaminated, causing severe infections, eyeball loss, blindness, and even death among users.

If you are using a recalled eye drop and have developed an illness or injury, Plattner Verderame, P.C. may be able to help you. Please contact our injury lawyers in Phoenix or Tempe today to learn more about your options.

Which eye drop products were recalled?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are four eye drops that have been recalled:

• EzriCare Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears were both recalled in early 2023.
• Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15% and Pharmedica Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops were recalled soon after.

Each recall was voluntary.

Why were the eye drop products recalled?

All four eye drop products were recalled due to the same reasons, which are lack of sterility and contamination as well as risks of infections, eye loss, blindness, serious health issues, and death. Many individuals across the country have reported severe infections and other symptoms linked to these four products. In fact, NBC News stated that as of April 2023, about 70 people around the United States suffered infections due to the eye drops. Here is the list of 16 states where the individuals reported the infections:

1. California
2. Colorado
3. Connecticut
4. Florida
5. Illinois
6. North Carolina
7. New Jersey
8. New Mexico
9. New York
10. Nevada
11. Pennsylvania
12. South Dakota
13. Texas
14. Utah
15. Washington
16. Wisconsin

It is important to make note that you can still develop infections from these products even if you do not see your state listed. Unfortunately, the CDC expects additional states to report illnesses and infections from these eye drop products. Therefore, if you believe that you may have a condition that developed as a result of using one of these products, it is highly suggested that you seek medical attention and report it as soon as possible.

The types of issues that people experienced after using the eye drop products

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that three people have died, four people underwent eyeball removal surgery, eight people suffered vision loss, and many others had serious eye infections and even urinary tract infections after using the eye drops products.

Several of the people who used the eye drop products are being diagnosed a pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that originates from the ground, soil, or water. It is a common bacterium that is spread in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and clinics by touching contaminated surfaces, hands, or objects.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa prefers to live in wet or damp areas, making the eyeballs a perfect target for this type of bacteria. However, your chances of being severely impacted increase based on your immune system. Therefore, while anyone can be directly affected, if you have cancer, burns, cystic fibrosis, HIV, diabetes, or open wounds, your risks of a serious pseudomonas aeruginosa infection go up. The following are some of the symptoms you should look out for if you have used any of the four eye drop products recently or in the past:

• Pain in the eyes
• Discomfort in the eyes
• Feeling like something foreign in the eyes
• Red eyes
• Swollen eyes or eyelids
• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision or blindness

Unfortunately, pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have the ability to move throughout the body and infect different parts. That said, once it is done attacking your eyes, it may move onto another area within the body, such as the stomach, tendons, muscles, lungs, urinary tract, and blood. In addition, healthcare providers are finding this bacterium extremely hard to treat as it is constantly changing, making it resistant to many prescriptions and antibiotics.

What should I do if I was injured by defective and dangerous eye drops?

Contact your doctor right away if you are using any of these eyedrops under medical supervision. Otherwise, stop using the product immediately.

When you purchase eye drops for seasonal allergies or to treat your glaucoma, you are placing your trust and confidence into the product and expecting it to work correctly. The Phoenix defective medical products lawyers at Plattner Verderame, PC are here to help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions and advocate for the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

Our team believes that these injuries and illnesses could have been completely avoided if it weren’t for the negligence of the manufacturers of these products. We will stand up and fight for your rights to ensure that justice is served.

It is important to know that not everyone who has used EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, or Pharmedica Purely Soothing Tears is eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers. In order to be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have proof that you used the eye drop product recently or in the past.
• You must have proof that you developed an eye infection, vision loss, or another illness or infection directly due to the product.

For this reason, we highly recommend that you keep the bottle of eye drops. Receipts, photographs, video footage, medical records, and doctor testimonies will assist our personal injury lawyers with proving your claim. We will work endlessly to gather this information.

If you suffer injuries or illnesses from using one of the recalled eye drop products, please get in touch with Plattner Verderame, PC at your earliest opportunity. Our Phoenix lawyers have the experience, skills, and knowledge to stand up to large and powerful pharmaceutical companies that jeopardize our clients’ health.

To begin discussing your case with one of our legal professionals, call our office or fill out our contact form. For your convenience, we offer free, no-obligation consultations at both of our offices in Tempe and Phoenix, AZ.