If you purchased eye drops at CVS, Wal-Mart or Target, be sure to check the lot numbers to see if they’re part of the recall. The eye drops were distributed between February 2012 and April 2013. While no one has been injured so far, mold has been found in the bottles after use.
The product is known generically as Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution and labeled as follows:
- equate Restore Tears Lubricant Eye Drops Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, Sterile, 1 FL OZ (30 mL) – Distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.;
- Lubricant EYE DROPS FOR MILD TO MODERATE DRY EYE, STERILE, 1 FL OZ (30 mL), for Mild to Moderate Dry Eye – Distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.;
- lubricant eye drops for mild to moderate dry eye, STERILE, 1 FL OZ (30 mL) – Dist. by Target Corp.
Only the lots listed below are affected, and the recall is limited to the product in the 30 mL size:
- Lot # 11440, expiration date 09/2013, labeled for CVS;
- Lot # 11441, expiration date 09/2013, labeled for CVS;
- Lot # 12042, expiration date 01/2014, labeled for Wal-Mart and CVS;
- Lot # 12103, expiration date 02/2015, labeled for Wal-Mart;
- Lot # 12203, expiration date 05/2015, labeled for Wal-Mart and CVS;
- Lot # 12207, expiration date 05/2015, labeled for Wal-Mart;
- Lot # 12293, expiration date 08/2015, labeled for Wal-Mart;
- Lot # 12352, expiration date 09/2015, labeled for Target and CVS;
- Lot # 12356, expiration date 09/2015, labeled for Target and CVS.
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution is a non-prescription (OTC) drug product used to relieve dryness of the eye and packaged in a plastic bottle inside a unit box. Lot numbers can be found printed horizontally on the side of the label and on the bottom flap of the box. The lots listed above were distributed between February 2012 and April 2013. The product was sold nationwide at retail stores.
For the full FDA recall, click here.
