This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning about the potential dangers of using preservative-free eye drops. The artificial tears, known as EzriCare Artificial Tears, have been linked to at least one death and 55 cases of serious infection in 12 states.
Eye surgeon Dr. David Samimi of Dignity Health California Hospital explains that preservatives are added to eye drops to prevent bacterial growth, but they can also cause irritation if used too often. This is why many Americans turn to preservative-free eye drops to avoid the chemicals.
The infections are caused by a type of bacteria called Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, which can be dangerous and even fatal. This type of bacteria is resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.
In response to the CDC alert, the manufacturers of the eye drops have issued a voluntary recall. The cause of the infections is still under investigation, but doctors are urging people to practice good hygiene when using any type of eye drops.
To reduce the risk of infection, Dr. Samimi recommends avoiding contact between the bottle and anything else, and to look directly at the drop when administering the drops. He also advises discarding preservative-free eye drops after two to four months, and to check the expiration date on any eye drops with chemicals. Individually wrapped drop packs can help reduce the risk of bacterial infection, but doctors caution that the safety and effectiveness of the drops beyond the expiration date are unknown.