If you use artificial tears for dry eyes you need to check the brand name and if they are made by EzriCare, stop using them immediately. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter said the CDC issued an alert after someone died of a bacterial infection linked to its use.
“A very serious type of bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one that is resistant to a lot of very common antibiotics in multiple vials of artificial tears,” said Kanter.
Kanter said these are not prescription eyedrops they are over-the-counter drops and there have been no reported cases in Louisiana, but it’s still recommended to dispose of EzriCare eyedrops.
In addition to one death, a total of 55 patients from 12 states suffered serious complications as a result of using EzriCare eye drops.
“And the complications have been severe. There have been some cases of vision loss or blindness and one death as a result of someone who got septic from this infection,” said Kanter.
If you show any signs of eye infection Kanter said to seek medical care.
If you do find these eyedrops in your medicine cabinet Kanter said to dispose of them so no one accidentally uses them. He said the drops are packaged in a blue box…
“It has a lighter blue dot on the front of the box that looks like tears and on the top left it has the brand name EzriCare,” said Kanter.
The use of artificial tears is very common for individuals with allergies and/or dry eyes.
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