FDA warns of contaminated copycat eye drops

Source: CBS News

January 31, 2024 / 5:31 PM EST


The Food and Drug Administration is warning the public against copycat eye drops because of the risk of infection.

South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo eye drops are offered in packaging that could easily be mistaken for Bausch + Lomb's Limify brand eye drops, an over-the-counter product approved for redness relief, the FDA said on Wednesday. The copycat products claim to address conditions like glaucoma, which is treated with prescription drugs or surgery, the agency noted.

The FDA tested samples of South Moon and Rebright eye drops purchased online, finding the former to be tainted with burkholderia cepacia complex, a group of bacteria that could cause an antibiotic-resistant infection. While Rebright testing did not find contamination, the agency advised against its use.

FDA testing also found South Moon and Rebright drops lacked brimonidine tartrate, the active ingredient in Limify. The agency was not able to obtain FivFivGo samples. The origin of the copycat products is not yet clear, but the federal agency continues to investigate.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/food-and-drug-administration-fda-eye-drops-copy-cat/