Systane brand lubricating eye drops have been voluntarily recalled due to possible fungal contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
A lot of Ultra PF Lubricating Eye Drops from manufacturer Systane was recalled following a consumer complaint “about foreign material observed inside a sealed vial for single use,” the FDA explained in a statement. The material was determined to be “fungal in nature.”
The contamination could cause eye infections that “can endanger vision and, in very rare cases, be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients,” according to the statement.
Alcon Laboratories, where the drops are manufactured, has not received any reports of customers experiencing adverse effects, according to the FDA.
The recalled drops come in individual vials of 25 units with the lot number 10101 and an expiration date of September 2025. The product was sold at Publix, according to a notice from the supermarket chain.
The drops are used to treat burning and irritation in people experiencing dry eye symptoms.
Anyone who purchased the eye drops should stop using them immediately and can request a refund or replacement, the FDA added. If anyone experiences symptoms, they should consult their doctor.
Alcon spokesman Steven Smith said a company investigation is ongoing, but “the presence of foreign material appears to be only in the single unit returned by a customer.”
Alcon recalled the product “out of an abundance of caution to prioritize consumer safety,” he added.
