Did You Know?Medicare doesn’t cover vision needs. For this, you’ll need a vision insurance policy.
Are Eye Drops Making Your Eyes Worse?
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April 18, 2023
A recent investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that eye drops from EzriCare and Delsam Pharma can cause users to develop serious eye infections that are resistant to antibiotics. These have resulted in over 50 infections, five cases of blindness, and one death. Even more recently, eye drops from Pharmedica and Apotex joined the recall, according to NPR.
As of 2020, roughly 117 million Americans use eye-cleansing products like OTC eye drops, which begs the question of whether they pose health risks –– even when they haven’t been recalled. Research shows that, when used properly, eye drops can reduce inflammation, treat dry eyes, and relieve eye pressure. However, eye drops, particularly those purchased over the counter, can contaminate your eyes, ultimately causing the conditions they’re designed to treat.
Did You Know?Medicare doesn’t cover vision needs. For this, you’ll need a vision insurance policy.
Popular eye drops from brands such as Refresh, Lumify, and Systane can be used to treat dry eye disease, reduce inflammation, and provide relief for those suffering from glaucoma. They can also be prescribed for bacterial and viral infections, but are freely available online and over the counter. They’re often marketed as a quick fix for tired or itchy eyes during allergy season.
OTC eye drops come in four broad types that differ in their active ingredients. While they often look nearly identical, they have very different uses.
These types include:
Though OTC eye drops seem harmless (when they aren’t being recalled), even normal eye-drop use poses some health risks. The main ones include side effects from preservatives or thickening agents, contamination, expiration, and tampering.
Multi-use eye drop bottles often contain preservatives, particularly artificial tears. They help prevent the drops from expiring, but the preservatives themselves can cause side effects when used over the long term.
This is because preservatives include a chemical called benzalkonium chloride (abbreviated as “BAK”). When used too often, it can cause burning, stinging, itching, watering, and a foreign object sensation in the eyes.
Optometrists suggest using eye drops that contain preservatives no more than four times a day. Single-use eye drops can help you avoid this problem, though their lack of preservatives has contributed to the current outbreak of infections.
Even with preservatives, eye drops still expire. Even unopened bottles typically expire one to two years after they were bottled. The ones you open should be thrown away a month after you first use them.
This is not only because active ingredients in eye drops, such as glycol and glycerin, expire over time, but also because eye drops bottles that are open can become contaminated with bacteria.
Using expired eye drops can lead to inflammation, irritation, or infection. Even without side effects, expired drops will likely lose their effectiveness.
Thickening agents give eye drops their consistency. The most common are Liquifilm and Isopto, which are trade names for chemicals. They are most commonly used in artificial tears and redness relief drops, since they need the thickness that comes from these chemical compounds to replace your natural tear layer.
The main side effects of long-term use of these thickening agents are eye irritation or itching. If you experience them, you should discontinue your use of the drops and speak with your doctor.
The risk of contamination from viral or bacterial agents rises the longer your eye drop bottles remain opened, which is why multi-use bottles pose the biggest risk.
The side effects of using contaminated eye drops vary, depending on the contamination, but they include anything from eye irritation to infection. Contamination is the source of the current eye drop recall, so take these preventative steps:
Loose or missing safety seals can be evidence of tampering. They can also cause injuries of their own, since trying to remove them can contaminate the tip of the bottle, according to the Food & Drug Administration.
If the seal comes loose and falls into the user’s eye, it can cause an injury, in addition to leading to contamination. Return or throw away any eye drops with loose safety rings.
OTC eye drops can provide a quick remedy for itchy eyes related to allergies, inflammation related to glaucoma, and dry eyes related to daily strain. They are not without risks, however.
To use OTC eye drops safely, remember:
The recent eye drop recall does not mean that all eye drops are unsafe. However, following these precautions can help ensure that you use them safely.