The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to Amazon.com Inc. regarding the sale of unapproved eye drops that are being marketed for the treatment of various eye conditions. In a letter dated Monday, the agency expressed concern about seven eye products available on the Amazon website that have not been approved as drugs. The FDA considers this issue to be particularly worrying from a public health perspective.
According to the FDA, using drug products that are directly applied to the eyes poses an increased risk of harm to users as they can bypass the body’s natural defenses. The unapproved eye drops mentioned in the FDA’s letter include Similasan Pink Eye Relief, OcluMed Eye Drops, Goodbye Company Pink Eye, Can-C Eye Drops, Optique 1 Eye Drops, and TRP Natural Eyes Floater Relief.
This warning from the FDA comes on the heels of another announcement made two weeks ago, in which the agency highlighted the risk of dangerous eye infections associated with over-the-counter eye drop products sold under various brands including CVS Health Corp., Target Corp., and Rite Aid Corp.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time such a warning has been issued. In September, the FDA also warned CVS, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., and several smaller consumer-products companies about marketing unapproved eye products, including drops for allergies and pink eye.
Amazon has been given a time frame of 15 working days to inform the FDA about the corrective measures it is taking to address the violations outlined in the letter. In response, an Amazon spokesperson stated that safety is a top priority for them and that all products sold on their platform must comply with relevant laws and regulations. They assured that the products in question are currently under investigation and are being removed from the website.
