Nationwide Recall: Nine Eye-Care Products Pulled Over Sterility Concerns

As fall allergy season peaks, many people refill medicine cabinets with gels, ointments and multi-purpose eye drops to relieve redness, itching and dryness. If you use over-the-counter eye lubricants, check your bottles: Sterling Pharmaceutical Services LLC announced a recall on August 20 for nine eye-care products because the company "could not provide assurance of sterility."

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has classified the action as a Class II recall, which the agency defines as a situation where exposure to the violative product "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

The recalled products were distributed nationwide and include Walgreens-branded Lubricant Eye Drops sold both as single bottles and twin packs. Sterling Pharmaceutical Services has not published a public recall notice with consumer return instructions; if you have any of the affected items, contact the retailer where you purchased them for next steps. If you experience eye pain, increased redness, swelling, discharge, or changes in vision after using any recalled product, seek medical attention promptly.

FDA-Listed Recalled Products (Brand, Lot, Expiration)

AvKare

• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5% Lubricant Drops, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) each, Twin Pack — Lot 3161; Expiration: 8/31/2026
• Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution 0.5% Lubricant Drops, Twin Pack, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) each — Lots 3245 (Exp: 3/2027), 3260 (Exp: 5/2027), 3298, 3299, 3300 (Exp: 6/2027), 3301, 3302, 3305, 3306 (Exp: 7/2027)

Reliable-1 Laboratories

• Sodium Chloride Hypertonicity Ophthalmic Solution 5%, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) — Lot 3192 (Exp: 1/31/2027); Lots 3293, 3336 (Exp: 6/30/2027)
• Lubricating Tears, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) — Lot 3171 (Exp: 9/30/2026); Lot 3174 (Exp: 10/31/2026); Lot 3275 (Exp: 6/30/2027); Lot 3304 (Exp: 7/31/2027)

Walgreens (branded)

• Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, 0.5 oz. (15 mL) — Lots 3166, 3172, 3173 (Exp: 9/2026); 3175, 3176, 3177, 3178 (Exp: 10/2026); 3180 (Exp: 11/2026); 3188, 3202, 3203, 3205 (Exp: 12/2026); 3209 (Exp: 2/2027); 3210, 3246, 3247 (Exp: 3/2027); 3248, 3249, 3250, 3252, 3253 (Exp: 4/2027); 3261, 3262, 3263, 3264 (Exp: 5/2027); 3281 (Exp: 6/2027)
• Lubricant Eye Drops Twin Pack, two 0.5-fl. oz. (15 mL) bottles — Lots 3165 (Exp: 9/2026); 3179 (Exp: 10/2026); 3204, 3206, 3208 (Exp: 12/2026); 3259 (Exp: 4/2027); 3265, 3272 (Exp: 5/2027); 3268, 3273, 3276, 3278, 3280 (Exp: 6/2027); 3307, 3309, 3315 (Exp: 7/2027)

TRP (The Relief Products)

• Gentle Eyes Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) — Lot 3279 (Exp: 6/30/2027); Lot 3292 (Exp: 5/31/2027)

Major

• LubriFresh P.M. Nighttime Ointment, 0.125 oz. (3.5 g) — Lot 3183 (no expiration date provided)

Cameron Pharmaceuticals

• Lubricant Eye Drops, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5%, 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL) — Lot 3163 (Exp: 8/31/2026); Lot 3164 (Exp: 9/30/2026)

What Consumers Should Do

• If you have any of the listed lots, stop using the product and contact the retailer where you purchased it for guidance on returns or disposal.
• If you experience eye symptoms after use — including significant pain, redness, swelling, discharge or vision changes — seek medical attention immediately.
• Monitor official FDA updates and the retailer’s communications for any consumer instructions or public notices; Sterling has not yet issued a detailed consumer recall notice.

Note: This article preserves the FDA-identified lot numbers and expiration dates. For the most current information, check your product packaging and consult the retailer or the FDA.