On October 27, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to unsanitary manufacturing conditions. Last week, about 1 in 6 (16%) St. Louis adults said they had heard that eyedrops are unsafe. Almost all (92%) who heard it said it could be true.
Not all eyedrops are unsafe, though. Eyedrops that were not part of the recall are still safe if used correctly. Also, prescription eyedrops should not be affected. All the eyedrops that were recalled are over-the-counter products.
Recalled eyedrop brands include CVS Health, Leader, Rugby, Rite Aid, Target Up & Up and Velocity Pharma. Eye drop users can check the FDA website for an updated recall list. If in doubt, show your eye drops to a pharmacist and ask if they were part of the recall.
Some St. Louisans were more likely than others to hear that eye drops were unsafe: Black community members were more likely to hear it than Whites (25% vs 8%), those age 50 and older vs. those under 50 (25% vs 12%), and women vs. men (19% vs 10%).
People using recalled eye products should visit an eye care professional if they have eye infection symptoms such as blurry vision, discharge, pain or discomfort, redness of the eyelid, feeling like there is something in the eye, or increased sensitivity to light. Using unsafe eyedrops could put consumers at risk of eye infections, resulting in partial vision loss or blindness.
The recall highlights how the FDA protects Americans by assuring the safety of health products. St. Louis organizations can help spread the word to avoid this product by sharing the social media assets below.
This week’s report is based on 161 responses from a panel of adult residents of St. Louis City and County surveyed from Saturday, November 11, to Monday, November 13, 2023. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
Download the infographic below to share about this topic on social media.
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On October 27, the FDA warned consumers to stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products. Anyone using recalled eye products should visit an eye care professional if they have eye infection symptoms such as blurry vision, discharge, pain or discomfort, redness of the eyelid, feeling like there is something in the eye, or increased sensitivity to light. Stay healthy!
#iHeardSTL #EyedropSafety #RecallAlert