Taiwan FDA warns public against buying eye drops from unknown sources

Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on Wednesday advised the public not to buy eye drops or artificial tears from unknown sources in other countries or online.

Patients are encouraged to contact their health care providers instead of purchasing artificial tears and eye drops abroad or online that could happen to be substandard products, TFDA Deputy Director-General Cheng Hwei-fang (陳惠芳) told a news conference.

Chen said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February warned "consumers and health care practitioners not to purchase and to immediately stop using EzriCare Artificial Tears or Delsam Pharma's Artificial Tears due to potential bacterial contamination," during the manufacturing and packing process in India.

Using contaminated artificial tears increases the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or death, the U.S. FDA said.

At least one death was associated with the 50 infections recorded in America, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at the time.

According to the U.S. CDC, most of those infected had used artificial tears, with Ezricare the most commonly used brand.

The U.S. FDA issued recalls between late October and mid-November for 28 types of artificial tears and eye drops of seven brands -- CVS Health, Leader, Rugby, Rite Aid, Target, Velocity Pharma LLC, and Walmart -- all of which Chen said have not been authorized to be imported, sold or consumed in Taiwan.

Chen urged the Taiwanese public not to buy the abovementioned products in other countries or online.

According to Chen, the U.S. authorities are planning to recall all unexpired products from the brands between November 2023 and September 2025.