EzriCare Artificial Tears are non-prescription eye drops available for purchase in retail outlets like Walmart. These drops are designed to treat dry and irritated eyes.
On January 20, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to consumers and healthcare providers to discontinue using EzriCare Artificial Tears after identifying a multistate cluster of a drug-resistant bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa linked to eye infections. At least 50 patients across 11 states had become infected with this rare strain of bacteria. Researchers later traced the infections to contaminated bottles of ErziCare eye drops.
In February 2022, Global Pharma Healthcare recalled all lots of EzriCare Artificial Tears, Delsam Pharma Artificial Tears, and Delsam Pharma Artificial Eye Ointment due to the risk of bacterial contamination. In those few weeks, the number of those affected had climbed to 55. Complications included permanent vision loss and one death in a patient who had developed a bloodstream infection. Later that month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected Global Pharma Healthcare's labs and found violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP).
On February 9, a Florida woman filed the first EzriCare eye drop lawsuit against Global Pharma Healthcare, alleging that the company's eye drops caused her to develop an eye infection requiring surgery and resulting in long-term complications.