Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is in the process of removing seven unapproved eye drops from its e-commerce platform. This move comes in response to a warning letter issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this week.
A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed that the products under scrutiny have been investigated and are currently being removed from the platform. The FDA’s warning letter, sent to Amazon on Monday, cited concerns about the sale of eye drops that have not been recognized as safe and effective for providing temporary relief from symptoms such as excessive watery discharge, redness, burning, and pink eye.
The eye drops specifically mentioned in the FDA’s letter to Amazon include Similasan Pink Eye Relief, Can-C Eye Drops, Optique 1 Eye Drops, and OcluMed Eye Drops, among others. The FDA had previously cautioned consumers against using 26 different over-the-counter eye drops due to the risk of infection and reports of possible vision loss.
In addition to Amazon, the FDA had also issued warning letters to eight other companies in September, including major pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance. These letters were directed at companies involved in the manufacturing or marketing of certain unapproved eye products, highlighting the FDA’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of such products for consumers.