In the last few months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled several different types of eye drops, for everything from unsanitary production facilities, to increased risk of infection, and vision-threatening infections.
Now, the agency is once again urging consumers to watch out for three types of eye drops that are serving as copycats for Bausch + Lomb’s Lumify drops. Lumify is a popular eye drop used for eye redness. However, the drops mentioned in the FDA’s warning claim to treat glaucoma, which requires either prescription eye drops or surgery.
The FDA is warning consumers about three brands: South Moon, Rebright, and FivFivGo. The agency explained that these brands aren’t eligible for sale in the U.S. and using them could lead to eye infections.
Additionally, the packaging of these brands is nearly identical to the Lumify drops. The bottles have the same gray and purple coloring, and the boxes feature the same image of an eye. Some of the fakes even include Bausch + Lomb labeling.
Risk of infection
While the FDA was unable to obtain samples of the FivFivGo drops, the agency tested samples of both the Rebright and the South Moon eye drops, and the latter was found to be contaminated with bacteria.
“The South Moon eye drops were contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia complex, a group of bacteria that could result in antibiotic-resistant infection,” the agency wrote. “While Rebright testing was negative for contamination, FDA recommends consumers not use this product."
In testing both South Moon and Rebright drops, the FDA also learned that both brands were missing a key ingredient that is used to relieve redness – brimonidine tartrate, which is the active ingredient in the Lumify drops.
As a rule of thumb, the agency urges consumers to “only buy eye products from reputable retailers such as state-licensed pharmacies, and beware of online retailers selling products with false claims.”
So far, the FDA has received complaints about eye drops that could be Lumify fakes. Consumers have reported quality concerns, eye irritation, pain, and infection, though none of these brands have been mentioned by name in the reports.
Any issues with these eye drops can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-02-07 12:34:08
