Key takeaways:
Over the last few years, many artificial tear products have been recalled over safety concerns. Most recently, in March 2026, eye drops made by K.C. Pharmaceuticals were recalled.
Recalled artificial tear eye drops had previously been sold in retail stores, such as CVS and Walgreens, and online. Before using or buying artificial tears, check the most recent recall list to see if your product is affected.
Contact your healthcare team right away if you’ve used artificial tears and notice vision changes or eye infection symptoms.
Save on related medications
If you’re dealing with dry, irritated eyes, you may rely on artificial tears to find relief. But recent events may have you thinking twice before reaching for your bottle at home.
Over the last few years, a long list of artificial tear products and eye ointments have been recalled. In some cases, certain products may be linked to vision loss and other serious problems among people using them. As the reasons behind the recalls are being investigated, companies are pulling these products as a precaution to help keep consumers safe.
So, how do you know if your eye drops are on the recall list? And what should you do if you’ve been affected? We cover what you should know before buying or using artificial tears below.
Why are artificial tears being recalled?
Over the course of 2023 to 2026, manufacturers have recalled various artificial tear products. The recalls involved artificial tear eye drops, gels, and ointments.
Recall date | Affected products and recall reason |
|---|---|
Affected products: Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare. It’s sold under the EzriCare, LLC and Delsam Pharma brand names.
| |
Affected products: Artificial tear products manufactured by Kilitch Healthcare India Limited. These products were sold by several different retail stores (such as CVS, Target, and Walmart) and online companies. Expiration dates ranged from November 2023 through September 2025.
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February 2024 | Affected products: Lubricant eye ointments manufactured by Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. These products had been sold nationwide at retailers such as Walmart and CVS. Expiration dates ranged from February 2024 to September 2025.
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September 2024 | Affected products: Lubricant eye ointments (Refresh P.M. and Refresh Lacri-Lube) made by Allergen. Expiration dates ranged from September 2024 through May 2027.
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Affected products: Artificial tears made by BRS Analytical Service, LLC and distributed by AvKARE. The recall applies to certain products with expiration dates ranging from April 2025 through March 2027.
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Affected products: Artificial tear and red eye relief drops made by K.C. Pharmaceuticals. These products have been sold under various brand names. Expiration dates range from April 2026 through October 2026.
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What eye drops have been recalled?
The most recent recall from March 2026 affected over 3 million bottles of eye drops. These products have been sold nationwide at retailers such as Walgreens, Kroger, and CVS. Below is a table of the affected products in this most recent recall, including the specific lot numbers and expiration dates.
| Product | Brand name(s) | Lot and expiration date |
|---|---|---|
| Sterile Eye Drops AC (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%, zinc sulfate 0.25%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
AC24E01 (5/31/2026) |
| Eye Drops Advanced Relief, (dextran 70 0.1%, polyethylene glycol 400 1%, tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
AR24D01 (4/30/26) AR24G01 (7/31/26) AR24G02 (7/31/26) AR24M01 (10/31/26) |
| Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops, (glycerin 0.2%, hypromellose 0.2%, polyethylene glycol 400 1%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
LT24E01 (5/31/26) LT24E02 (5/31/26) LT24E03 (5/31/26) LT24F01 (6/30/26) LT24G01 (7/31/26) LT24M01 (10/31/26) LT24M02 (10/31/26) |
| Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops (polyethylene 400 0.4%, propylene glycol 0.3%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
SU24E01 (5/31/26) SU24E02 (5/31/26) SU24E03 (5/31/26) SU24K01 (9/30/26) |
| Sterile Eye Drops Original Formula (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
RG24E01 (5/31/26) RG24G01 (7/31/26) RG24G02 (7/31/26) |
| Sterile Eye Drops Redness Lubricant (glycerin 0.25%, naphazoline HCl 0.012%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles |
|
RL24D01 (4/30/26) RL24F01 (6/30/26) RL24F02 (6/30/26) |
| Sterile Eye Drops Soothing Tears (polyethylene glycol 400 0.4%, propylene glycol 0.3%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles |
|
SY24K01 (9/30/26) SY24K02 (9/30/26) |
| Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops (polyvinyl alcohol 0.5%, povidone 0.6%), 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles |
|
AT24D01 (4/30/26) AT24E01 (5/31/26) AT24E02 (5/31/26) AT24G01 (7/31/26) |
What should you do if your eye drops have been recalled?
If you’ve been using artificial tears, check the list of recalled products to see if yours is affected by the recall. If your product is on the list, stop using it. And if you notice any vision changes or symptoms of an eye infection, contact your healthcare team right away.
If you’ve experienced an adverse reaction to one of these products, you should report it to the FDA. You can submit a form online or download a form that you can mail or fax. You can also request a form over the phone by calling the FDA at 1-800-332-1088.
Keep in mind that you should also check the expiration date of any OTC eye products you have on hand before using them and discard any expired eye drops.
What should you look for when purchasing artificial tears?
As a result of the recall, retailers should be pulling affected products off store shelves and removing them from their websites.
But you may still be able to find these recalled products available for purchase in stores or online. Before buying or using artificial tears, check the recalled product list first. Do not buy or use them if they’re on the list. Keep in mind that additional products may be added to the list over time.
When purchasing artificial tears at a local pharmacy, your pharmacist can also be a helpful resource.
How can you stay up to date on eye drop recalls?
There are a few different resources available for staying up to date on which artificial tears products are being recalled. For example, you can check for recent updates on the FDA’s original announcement (if applicable), which includes a current product listing.
A few other resources include:
Signing up to receive emails on FDA recalls, withdrawals, and safety alerts
Searching the FDA’s drug recall database
Following the FDA’s recall account on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates
Frequently asked questions
You may not be able to tell if your eye drops are contaminated just by looking at them. Sometimes, contaminated eye drops can appear normal, but they may still contain harmful bacteria. Possible signs of contamination include:
Discoloration
Cloudiness
Floating particles
Strange odor
If the eye drop bottle looks damaged or is beyond its expiration date, it’s safest not to use it. You should also avoid using eye drops from a recalled lot or from an unsealed container.
It can be safe if you’re buying from a reputable seller, such as the manufacturer’s official store or a verified pharmacy. Be cautious of third-party sellers, especially if the price seems unusually low or the packaging looks different. Always check the expiration date, packaging integrity, and seller reviews. Avoid products that aren’t FDA approved or don’t have an ingredient label.
You may not be able to tell if your eye drops are contaminated just by looking at them. Sometimes, contaminated eye drops can appear normal, but they may still contain harmful bacteria. Possible signs of contamination include:
Discoloration
Cloudiness
Floating particles
Strange odor
If the eye drop bottle looks damaged or is beyond its expiration date, it’s safest not to use it. You should also avoid using eye drops from a recalled lot or from an unsealed container.
It can be safe if you’re buying from a reputable seller, such as the manufacturer’s official store or a verified pharmacy. Be cautious of third-party sellers, especially if the price seems unusually low or the packaging looks different. Always check the expiration date, packaging integrity, and seller reviews. Avoid products that aren’t FDA approved or don’t have an ingredient label.
The bottom line
Many artificial tears products have been recalled over the last 3 years. These include eye drops, gels, and ointments sold in stores and online. Many of these products are no longer available for purchase. But you may still have them in your home. So it’s important to check the list of affected products before buying or using artificial tears.
You can stay up to date on eye drop recalls by visiting the FDA’s announcement page, signing up for email updates, and searching the drug recall database. You can also follow FDA recall accounts on social media for updates.
Why trust our experts?
References
AvKARE. (2025). Recall notices.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with artificial tears.
Picchi, A. (2026). 3.1 million bottles of eye drops sold at Walgreens, CVS and more are recalled. Here's what to know. CBS News.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Drug recalls.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use certain eye drops from several major brands due to risk of eye infection.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Global pharma healthcare issues voluntary nationwide recall of artificial tears lubricant eye drops due to possible contamination.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Kilitch Healthcare India Limited issues voluntary nationwide recall of various eye drops for potential safety reasons.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). The Harvard Drug Group, LLC issues voluntary nationwide recall of certain Rugby Laboratories brand eye drops supplied by Velocity Pharma, LLC due to potential risk of eye infections.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. issues voluntary nationwide recall of Equate Lubricant Eye Ointment, Equate Stye Lubricant Eye Ointment, CVS Health Lubricant Eye Ointment, Lubricant PM Ointment due to potential lack of sterility.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). Enforcement report: Event 96741.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (2026). Enforcement report: Event 98533.
