Allergan Eye Ointment Recalled for Particles

By Staff Writer

Drug manufacturers Allergan and Actavis merged as recently as last November and within ten months two of their products have been recalled. Small batches of eye-treatment ointments under the brands Lacri-Lube, Refresh and others are being recalled after customer complaints of the presence of “small black particles.”

According to Allergan, the particles were the result of an aluminum tube being unscrewed and shavings falling inside the product.

Included in the recall are two over-the-counter Refresh products. The products under scrutiny are:

• Refresh P.M., 3.5 g, for dry eye
  • Blephamide(sulfacetamide sodium and prednisolone acetate ophthalmic ointment) 10%/0.2%, 3.5 g, which combines an antibiotic and a corticosteroid
• Refresh Lacri-Lube, 3.5 g and 7 g, for dry eye
  • FML (fluorometholone ophthalmic ointment) 0.1%, 3.5 g, an anti-inflammatory agent

The lots affected by the recall contain expiration dates between April 2017 and March 2018. Only these specific batches of Refresh are affected; no other Refresh or Allergan product is affected.

To date, Allergan has received a dozen complaints ranging from foreign bodies in eyes and eye swelling to blurred vision and eye irritation. Wholesalers and retailers who received contaminated shipments will be contacted and informed on how to return the defective product.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have a legal obligation to check product quality to ensure that their products are safe for consumers. In the event that a product on the market is found to be dangerous, manufacturers can be held liable for any injuries or illness that occur as a result. Fortunately, the defective eye ointments haven’t cause any serious injuries; however, this is not always the case.

In the event that you or a loved one are harmed by a recalled defective product, reach out to Gilreath & Associates. After you schedule a free consultation, we will work to ensure you’re taken care of. More information about product liability, personal injury and more can be found on our blog and knowledge center.

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