Users of recalled eye drops describe permanent vision problems after infections

 

Users of recalled eye drops describe permanent vision problems after infections

 

Renee Martray of South Carolina has severe and permanent corneal scarring resulting in vision loss. She says it’s like trying to peer through eyeglasses that have been dipped in oil.   Nancy Montz of Ohio developed a corneal ulcer, spent three weeks in the hospital and lost vision in her left eye.   Carla Oliva of Florida developed a severe eye infection and, when treatment failed, had to have her right eye removed. She’s now legally blind.   The women said their problems began after they used EzriCare Artificial Tears, which is part of a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and US Food and Drug Administration investigation into a multistate outbreak of a rare strain of bacteria.   EzriCare said in a statement last month that when it learned of the investigation on January 20, it was not aware of any testing that definitively linked the outbreak to its product.   “Nonetheless, we immediately took action to stop any further distribution or sale of EzriCare Artificial Tears. To the greatest extent possible, we have been contacting customers to advise them against continued use of the product," the company said.   EzriCare did not respond to CNN’s multiple requests for comment. The artificial tears are made by India-based Global Pharma Healthcare, which issued a recall of both EzriCare and Delsam Pharma artificial tears.   Delsam Pharma’s product has not been linked to infections, but the CDC and the FDA have advised people  to stop using eye drops from either company, pending additional guidance.   Since the beginning of its investigation, the CDC has identified 68 people in 16 states with infections of a rare strain of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa that had never before been reported in the United States.   There have been three deaths, eight cases of vision loss and four surgical eye removals reported, according to the CDC.   Click here to learn more about the stories of people who have had their vision affected by these eye drops.