Public cautioned against using unregistered brands of eye drops

Following the reported increase in sore eyes cases, a health watchdog on Sunday cautioned the public against purchasing eye drops not registered with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

 

“With cases of sore eyes on the rise and with the supply of eye drops reportedly getting scarce, some sufferers may be tempted to use this product whose quality and safety is dubious,” said Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

 

“Given the proliferation of unregistered health products in the market, it’s important for consumers to know how to spot the untrustworthy eye drops,” he added.

 

Dizon said customers should be vigilant against products which have no listed manufacturer and/or importer information, no ingredients’ list, no instruction on usage, and no precautionary statement.

 

According to the group, they were able to purchase a P100 eye drop product called "Herbal Eye Drop Wild Sampaguita Extract" from a self-styled "eye doctor" who does his business at the sidewalk of Rizal Avenue in Santa Cruz, Manila.

 

The product, which comes in small plastic bottle with blue cap and label, supposedly cleanses and removes bacteria from the eyes.

 

As per the group's checking, the product was not registered with the FDA, and no information was provided on the product’s date of manufacturing and lot number.

 

The FDA previously warned consumers that "the use of unregistered eye drops may result in inflammation, irritation, infection of the eye or loss of vision."

 

This year, the FDA issued several advisories banning the sale and use of the following unregistered eye drops mostly imported from India:

 

 

Sore eyes—more accurately, conjunctivitis or pinkeye—is described by the Department of Health as a redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjunctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the inner parts of the eyelids. 

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/534461/lifestyle/healthandwellness/doh-reminds-pinoys-how-to-avoid-sore-eyes

 

Symptoms include eye redness and itching; a watery pus or discharge from the eyes; and eyelids that are stuck together when waking up. Severe cases may involve pain of the eyes when exposed to sunlight and foreign-body solutions, the department said in a previous advisory. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/ALG, GMA News