By Amber Roman
Nov 16, 2023, 3:38 PM EST
In a new safety measure, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to Amazon, highlighting the sale of seven unapproved eye drops on its e-commerce platform.
The communication, dated Monday, highlights that these products have not been recognized as safe or effective in providing temporary relief from ocular symptoms, such as excessive watery discharge, redness, burning or conjunctivitis.
This warning comes just a few weeks after FDA to advise consumers to refrain from using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products, citing risks of infection and, in some cases, the possibility of vision loss. The agency emphasizes that eye products pose a significant risk because they can bypass some of the body’s natural defenses.
The seven specific products noted in the letter sent to Amazon include well-known brands such as Similasan Pink Eye Relief, Can-C Eye Drops, Optique 1 Eye Drops, and OcluMed Eye Drops. The FDA stresses the importance of addressing this issue immediately to ensure the safety and eye health of consumers.
This new episode follows a previous warning issued by the FDA in September, which focused on eight companies, including pharmaceutical giants such as CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance.
These warnings also included Swiss drugmaker Similasan, which, being privately held, was previously urged by the FDA to comply with established safety limits for diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol levels. These two compounds are common contaminants in some medications and, at higher levels, could result in fatal poisoning.
The FDA has stepped up its efforts to address the presence of unapproved products on the market, especially those intended for the eyes, which pose a potentially greater risk to consumers.
The recent warnings to leading companies in the pharmaceutical sector and now to e-commerce platforms like Amazon They underline the need for stricter regulation and more rigorous control of products offered to the public.
Amazon, in response to the FDA warning letter, has stated that it is taking immediate steps to address the situation. The company has suspended the sale of the mentioned products and is fully cooperating with the agency to ensure the safety of its clients.
Additionally, the e-commerce platform has announced plans to strengthen its product review and oversight processes to prevent future violations of FDA regulations.
This situation highlights the challenges faced by e-commerce platforms in the control of health products and medicines, and highlights the need for closer collaboration between these platforms and regulatory agencies to ensure consumer safety.
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