Don’t Buy These 7 Eye Drops From Amazon, FDA Warns

The Food and Drug Administration warned Amazon to stop selling seven eye drops that are advertised to treat pink eye, floaters and eye irritation because they have not been approved for sale.

The products are not “generally recognized as safe and effective” for their intended uses and are categorized as “new drugs,” which require FDA approval before being sold, the agency said. Although some of the products are labeled as homeopathic, they are still subject to the same requirements as other drugs.

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

The warning coincides with a recall of 27 over-the-counter eye drops that may cause partial vision loss or blindness due to contamination.

Medications intended for use in the eye pose a greater risk because they can bypass some of the body’s natural defenses, the FDA noted.

The eye drops cited in the warning to Amazon are:

• Similasan Pink Eye Relief
• The Goodbye Company Pink Eye
• Can-C Eye Drops
• Optique 1 Eye Drops
• OcluMed Eye Drops
• TRP Natural Eyes Floaters Relief
• Manzanilla Sophia Chamomile Herbal Eye Drops

Amazon is investigating the products and is in the process of removing them from its website, a spokesperson told AARP: “Safety is a top priority at Amazon. We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations.”

Symptoms of an eye infection

Eye infections typically start with symptoms such as discomfort, redness, and itchiness, often triggered by the entry of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi into the eye. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is the most prevalent type of eye infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

About 1 million people are treated for eye infections in the U.S. every year.

Early indicators may include red eyes, itching, eye pain, watery eyes and swelling. Later signs may include eye discharge, light sensitivity, blurred vision and fever.