The CDC has reported an outbreak of Eye Infections associated with using artificial tears. There have been 55 patients from 12 states identified from May 2022 to January 2023.
These infections are dangerous; one person has died and vision loss was present in 5 others. While these infections have been found in people using a variety of over-the-counter artificial tears, EzriCare Artificial Tears have been the most common eye drops identified.
The CDC “recommends clinicians and patients stop using EzriCare Artificial Tear products pending additional guidance from the CDC and FDA.
They also recommend seeing your doctor right away if signs or symptoms of an eye infection is experienced. These include eye pain, redness, thick discharge, and/vision loss.
These dangerous eye infections are due to a strain of a bacteria named Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This strain has never been seen in the U.S. before. This type of bacteria is found in the environment including soil and water. It causes infections in a variety of body parts and not just the eye. Of added concern is that this strain is resisted to a number of antibiotics, which is the usual treatment.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
