If you're using eye drops or eye ointments, you should check your medicine cabinet, nightstand or desk drawer in the wake of voluntary recalls by Altaire Pharmaceuticals.
The maker of eye drops for dry eye, rewetting drops and eye ointments sold at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart cited concerns about sterility of the ophthalmic products made at its manufacturing facility, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Why is sterility important?
As the FDA notes, "administration of a non-sterile product intended to be sterile may result in serious and potentially life-threatening infections or death."
The FDA news releases issued early in July 2019 detail Altaire's voluntary recalls of eye care products made for CVS Health, Perrigo, Walgreens and Walmart.
The voluntary recall has since expanded to include over-the-counter and prescription eye care products sold under the Altaire brand name and products labeled exclusively for Accutome, Focus Laboratories, Grandall Distributing Co. Inc., Natural Ophthalmics, OCuSOFT, Prestige and TRP Co.
Altair reports that to date it has not received any reports of adverse effects from the voluntarily recalled products, nor has Altaire found any out-of-specifications outcomes of sterility testing for the products.
The voluntarily recalled products are:
Accutome
Accutome Accu-Wash, Product Size: 4 oz.
Altaire brand eye drops and products recalled
ActivEyes Nighttime Lub Eye Ointment Preservative Free, Product Size: 3.5 g
Altaire Altacaine Solution, Product Size: 15 mL
ActivEyes Altachlore Ointment, Product Size: 3.5 gram
ActivEyes Altachlore Solution, Product Size: 15 mL
ActivEyes Altalube Ointment, Product Size: 3.5 gram
Altaire Ciprofloxacin HCl Ophthalmic Solution 0.3%, Product Size: 2.5 mL
Altaire Ciprofloxacin HCl Ophthalmic Solution 0.3%, Product Size: 5 mL
Altaire Ciprofloxacin HCl Ophthalmic Solution 0.3%, Product Size: 10 mL
Altaire Diclofenac Sodium Solution 1%, Product Size: 2.5 mL
Altaire Diclofenac Sodium Solution 1%, Product Size: 5 mL
Altaire Fluorescein Sodium with Proparacaine HCl Ophthalmic Solution, Product Size: 5 mL
Altaire Eye Wash, Product Size: 15 mL
Altaire Eye Wash, Product Size: 1 oz.
Altaire Eye Wash, Product Size: 4 oz.
Altaire Goniotaire, Product Size: 15 mL
Altaire Homatropaire, Product Size: 5 mL
NanoTears HA PF Multi Dose Lubricant Gel Drops, Product Size: 10 mL
Nano Tears MO Clear Emollient Mineral Oil Lipids, Product Size: 10 mL
Nano Tears MXP Forte Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops, Product Size: 10 mL
Nano Tears MXP Forte Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops Twin Pack: 2 x 10 mL
Nano Tears TF Clear Emollient Tear Film Replenishment Essential Lipids Preservative Free Multi-Dose, Product Size: 7.5 mL
Nano Tears MXP Forte Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops Preservative Free, Product Size: 0.6 mL x 32 ct.
Nano Tears TF Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops Preservative Free, Product Size: 0.6 mL x 32 ct.
Nano Tears TF Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops Twin Pack, Product Size: 2 x 15 mL
Nano Tears TF Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops, Product Size: 15 mL
Nano Tears XP Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops Twin Pack, Product Size: 2 x 10 mL
Nano Tears XP Clear Emollient Lubricant Gel Drops, Product Size: 10 mL
Altaire Ofloxacin 0.3% Ophthalmic Solution, Product Size: 5 mL
ActivEyes Preservative Free Multi-Dose Lubricant Gel Drops Long Lasting PF, Product Size: 7.5 mL
ActivEyes Preservative Free Multi-Dose Lubricant Drops Sensitive PF, Product Size: 7.5 mL
ActivEyes Lubricant Eye Ointment Preservative Free, Product Size: 3.5 gram
