The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is cautioning the public against the use of two eyedrop products Ezricare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears over its deadly effects in the United States.
According to an alert issued by the Authority on Thursday, March 23, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) found the products to contain the drug-resistant bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa and this is suspected to have led to three deaths and vision loss in eight patients.
This has forced the manufacturer, Global Pharma, to recall the products.
“The products are not registered with the Ghana FDA,” the Authority noted in its alert.
“Therefore, they should not be commercially available on the Ghanaian market. However, the FDA advises the public who may be in possession of these drugs through other means to immediately stop using the recalled products, Ezricare Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, and submit them to any of the FDA offices nationwide.”
Those who have accidentally used the products and experiencing any symptoms have been asked to contact a healthcare professional immediately.
Reported symptoms include yellow, green or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness, feeling of a substance on the eye, increased sensitivity to light and blurred vision.
The FDA is assuring the public that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that safe and effective medical products are brought to Ghana.
