LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Major retailers like Target and CVS are pulling eye drops from the shelves after a recall from the FDA.
The alert involves 26 different over-the-counter eye drops over concerns of infection.
Dr. Joe Shovlin at Northeastern Eye Institute says this strain can cause blindness.
"There's nothing worse than a corneal infection because patients can go blind from that," Dr. Shovlin said.
The FDA suggests people throw away the artificial tears, which include the CVS brand and Target's Up and Up brand.
"It's a type of pseudomonas infection, which is a really nasty infection, very difficult to treat. And they found it was available at certain manufacturing plants that were found to be unsanitary," said Dr. Eric Pusey, the owner of Better Health Pharmacy in Olyphant.
Dr. Pusey says none of the recalled products are on his shelves, as most are private labels. He says it's always a good idea to consult a pharmacist before buying.
"These are all over-the-counter products, so pharmacies should have alternatives for them."
Dr. Shovlin says it's also important to keep sanitary habits at home when it comes to eye care. He says that's where the majority of infections begin.
"There's no major concerns as long as patients take precautions. They should wash their hands on a regular basis, make sure the tips of the bottles do not become exposed to outside sources, and probably get rid of the bottles every so often, and they should be fine."
The FDA warns people with signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products to contact their doctor.