Over 3 Million Bottles of Store Brand Eye Drops Recalled Nationwide

When your eyes need moisture, cooling, or brightening—eye drops are eye drops, right? That may often be the case when you want to save a few dollars by going with a retailer’s or distributor’s label instead of a name brand, but today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has shared word of a recall affecting eyedrops marketed with 26 major labels from pharmacy chains, supermarkets, and other generic names.

On March 31, the FDA published a report revealing that 3,111,072 bottles of eyedrops were recalled on March 3 for “Lack of Assurance of Sterility.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that the products are unsterile, but the maker has voluntarily acknowledged they cannot guarantee that sterility was maintained to the set standards to prevent infection-causing microbes throughout production.

Eyedrops from the following are being recalled “nationwide in the U.S.,” reports the FDA, by Pomona, CA-based K.C. Pharmaceuticals (Note: main identifying details follow, but this list is not exhaustive. To see whether your specific product was affected, see the FDA link above):

Pharmacy/Drug Chains

• Walgreens
• CVS Health
• Rite Aid
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (AmerisourceBergen)
• Discount Drug Mart

Grocery Chains

• Kroger
• H-E-B
• Harris Teeter
• Publix
• Meijer

Other Retail

• Dollar General (DG Health)
• Circle K
• Cintas (industrial/workplace distributor)
• Rugby Laboratories
• CDMA/QC-Quality Choice
• NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (Avenova)
• Military Exchanges (Exchange Select)
• Grandall Distributing (Colirio brands)
• Lil’ Drug Store Products
• 4 Trees LLC (Code Red)

Wholesale/Distributor Brands

• Cardinal Health (Leader brand)
• McKesson (Foster & Thrive brand)
• Perrigo (Good Sense brand)
• UNFI (Equaline brand)
• Topco Associates (TopCare brand)
• Valu Merchandisers (Best Choice brand)

Sterile Eye Drops AC (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%, zinc sulfate 0.25%)

• Brands: Best Choice, QC-Quality Choice, Discount Drug Mart, Good Sense, Walgreens, CareOne, Equaline, TopCare, Meijer, H-E-B
• 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL)
• Lot: AC24E01, Expiration date: 05/31/26

Eye Drops Advanced Relief (dextran 70 0.1%, polyethylene glycol 400 1%, tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%)

• Brands: Walgreens, Kroger, CVS Health, QC-Quality Choice, Discount Drug Mart, Foster & Thrive, Good Sense, TopCare, DG Health, Code Red
• 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp: AR24D01 exp. 04/30/26; AR24G01, AR24G02

Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops (glycerin 0.2%, hypromellose 0.2%, polyethylene glycol 400 1%)

• Brands: Geri Care, TopCare, Rite Aid, Leader, Discount Drug Mart, H-E-B, Foster & Thrive, Meijer, DG Health, Harris Teeter, Exchange Select, Good Neighbor Pharmacy
• 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp:
  • LT24E01, LT24E02, LT24E03 — exp. 05/31/26
  • LT24F01 — exp. 06/30/26
  • LT24G01 — exp. 07/31/26
  • LT24M01, LT24M02 — exp. 10/31/26

Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops (polyethylene glycol 400 0.4%, propylene glycol 0.3%)

• Brands: Leader, Harris Teeter, Foster & Thrive, Walgreens, Publix, Kroger, Good Sense, Meijer, CVS Health (single and twin pack), QC-Quality Choice, Avenova
• 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp: SU24E01, SU24E02 exp. 05/31/26; SU24K01

Sterile Eye Drops Original Formula (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%)

• Brands: Good Sense, Walgreens (single and 2-pack), Kroger, Lil’ Drug Store, CVP, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Rugby, Equaline, Discount Drug Mart, Leader, CareOne, Circle K, DG Health, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, TopCare, Best Choice
• 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp: RG24E01 exp. 05/31/26; RG24G02 exp. 07/31/26

Sterile Eye Drops Redness Lubricant (glycerin 0.25%, naphazoline HCl 0.012%)

• Brands: Industrial Eye Relief (Cintas), Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Colirio Ojo De Aguila, Colirio Oftal-Mycin, Leader, Equaline, Walgreens, Foster & Thrive, Rite Aid, Discount Drug Mart
• 0.5 fl oz (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp:
  • RL24D01 — exp. 04/30/26
  • RL24F01, RL24F02 — exp. 06/30/26

Sterile Eye Drops Soothing Tears (polyethylene glycol 400 0.4%, propylene glycol 0.3%)

• Brands: Rugby, Walgreens
• 0.5 fl oz (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp: SY24K01, SY24K02 — exp. 09/30/26

Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops (polyvinyl alcohol 0.5%, povidone 0.6%)

• Brands: Leader, Good Sense, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, TopCare, Best Choice, Kroger, Publix, QC-Quality Choice
• 0.5 FL OZ (15 mL)
• Lots/Exp:
  • AT24D01 — exp. 04/30/26
  • AT24E01, AT24E02 — exp. 05/31/26
  • AT24G01 — exp. 07/31/26

The FDA report doesn’t offer steps for refund or remedy, but it is likely advisable not to use these products. Some places of purchase may honor refunds or exchanges. With questions, contact an eye doctor or speak to a pharmacist.

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