If you have any over-the-counter eye drops purchased at Walgreens, CVS, or Kroger, check the product name against the list of eight recalled products below. Do not use recalled bottles — return them to the store for a refund.
The short version: More than 3.1 million bottles of over-the-counter eye drops were recalled after the FDA flagged concerns that the manufacturing process may not have guaranteed the products were sterile. The recall covers eight separate product names, all made by K.C. Pharmaceuticals and sold at Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, and other major retailers. The recall was initiated March 3 and classified by the FDA on March 31, 2026. No illnesses or injuries have been reported.
Which Products Were Recalled
All eight products were manufactured by K.C. Pharmaceuticals. If you have any of the following in your home, they are part of this recall:
- Sterile Eye Drops AC
- Eye Drops Advanced Relief
- Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops
- Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops
- Sterile Eye Drops Original Formula
- Sterile Eye Drops Redness Lubricant
- Sterile Eye Drops Soothing Tears
- Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops
These products were sold at Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, and other national retailers. CVS confirmed the products had already been discontinued from its shelves nearly a year before the recall was announced. Even so, many bottles are still in people's medicine cabinets and could still be in use.
Why This Matters — What "Sterility" Means for Eye Drops
Your eyes are remarkably sensitive. Unlike skin, which acts as a natural barrier against bacteria and microorganisms, your eyes have almost no protection when something is applied directly to them. Products that go into your eyes must be completely sterile — meaning free of any bacteria, mold, or other microorganisms.
The FDA requires eye drop manufacturers to follow strict production standards that guarantee sterility. When a manufacturer cannot fully verify that its process met those standards, a recall is required — even if no contamination has actually been found or confirmed. The concern is that it cannot be ruled out (Healthline, 2026; FDA recall database, 2026).
Using contaminated eye drops can cause eye infections ranging from mild irritation to serious bacterial infections that can affect your vision. The risk is considered relatively low in this case — the FDA classified it as a Class II recall, meaning serious consequences are remote — but the precaution is real.
Who Should Be Extra Careful
While anyone using recalled products should stop, a few groups face meaningfully higher risk:
- Contact lens wearers — lenses sit directly on the eye and can trap bacteria against the surface for hours at a time, significantly increasing the risk of infection if a contaminated drop was used.
- People who recently had eye surgery — including cataract surgery or LASIK — have eyes that are more vulnerable to infection during the healing period.
- People with existing eye conditions such as dry eye disease, glaucoma, or corneal disorders, whose eyes may already be compromised.
What to Do
- Check your medicine cabinet for any of the eight product names listed above.
- Stop using any recalled bottles immediately and do not use them even once more.
- Return them to the store where you purchased them for a full refund. You do not need a receipt in most cases — the recall entitles you to a refund.
- Watch for signs of eye infection if you've used any of these products recently: increased redness, eye pain, discharge, blurry vision, or unusual sensitivity to light. If you notice any of these, see a doctor.
- Contact lens wearers should stop wearing their lenses and contact an eye doctor if they have been using any of these drops.
- Prescription eye drops are not part of this recall and remain safe to use.
Could There Be Lawsuits?
When eye drops cause infections or eye injuries due to manufacturing failures, the people who were harmed sometimes pursue product liability cases against the manufacturer. These cases can arise when someone suffers a documented eye infection, loss of vision, or other injury that can be linked to a recalled product.
No lawsuits related to this specific recall have been publicly reported at this time. But if you experienced an eye infection or eye injury after using any of the recalled products, it may be worth a free conversation with a lawyer to understand your options.
Sources
- Healthline. "Eye Drop Recall 2026: What to Toss and When to Call a Doctor." March/April 2026. healthline.com.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Recall database. fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts. Accessed April 2026.