FDA Issues Warning to Amazon: Halt Sale of Unsafe Eye Drops or Face Consequences

 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to Amazon regarding the sale of unapproved eye drops on its e-commerce platform. In a recent letter, the FDA stated that these eye drops have not been proven to be safe and effective for providing relief from eye symptoms such as excessive watery discharge, redness, burning, or pink eye.

This warning comes after the FDA advised consumers not to use 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the risk of infection and possible vision loss. The FDA has given Amazon 15 days to address these violations and ensure that the unapproved eye drops are no longer being sold on their platform. The warning to Amazon is part of the FDA's ongoing efforts to protect consumers from potentially harmful products. Eye products pose a greater risk to consumers as they bypass some of the body's natural defenses. The agency has previously warned companies, including major pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance, about the manufacturing and marketing of unapproved eye products.

Among the seven products flagged in the letter to Amazon are Similasan Pink Eye Relief, Can-C Eye Drops, Optique 1 Eye Drops, and OcluMed Eye Drops. The FDA has previously requested that privately held Swiss drugmaker Similasan meet safety limits for certain contaminants in their products. This warning from the FDA serves as a reminder to both sellers and consumers to exercise caution when purchasing and using eye drops. It is important to only use products that have been proven safe and effective through rigorous testing and approvals.