FDA Warns Public About Contaminated Eyedrop Brands

The Ghanaian public has been warned by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) about a contaminated eyedrop product that may enter the country.

In a statement dated March 23, 2023, the FDA disclosed that two brands of eyedrops, Ezricare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, have caused blindness in eight people and killed three in the United States.

Although the FDA has authorized these products to be sold on the Ghanaian market, Ghanaians are advised to be cautious and avoid using them.

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The FDA has issued an emergency alert over the two foreign eyedrop brands, stating that the manufacturer of the products, Global Pharma, has already recalled them from the US markets. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the incident as an outbreak.

The FDA clarified that the two eyedrop brands are not registered with the Ghana FDA, and therefore should not be available on the Ghanaian market. However, the FDA warns the public that anyone in possession of these drugs through other means should immediately stop using them and submit them to any of the FDA offices nationwide.

The FDA is also urging anyone who has used the recalled products and is experiencing any adverse effects to quickly seek the attention of a health professional. It is alarming to note that the use of contaminated eye drops has caused blindness and death in the United States.

The FDAS warning to the Ghanaian public is timely and serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that products are approved by the regulatory authorities before they are sold on the market.

Consumers must be vigilant and check for the FDA registration of products before purchasing them. The FDA’s commitment to protecting the public from harmful products is commendable, and Ghanaians should cooperate by reporting any suspected cases of contaminated products or adverse effects to the FDA.