75,000 cases of eye care products just got recalled: Here’s what to use instead
If you suffer from allergies and have dry or itchy eyes, double-check your medicine cabinet: AvKare, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, just recalled tons of eye drop solution.
The FDA described the reason for the recall as a “lack of assurance of sterility.”
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These cleansing eyelid pads also come recommended by Rapoport to help with dry eyes. The set includes 35 fragrance- and alcohol-free pads that help remove makeup, pollen and oils that can irritate the eyes, according to the brand.
Rapoport recommends this foaming cleanser to help hydrate and soothe eyelids. It has aloe vera and fruit extract to help moisturize eyelids and saccharide isomerate, a hydrating ingredient that mimics the skin’s natural barrier function, according to the brand. It’s ideal for getting pollen, dust and pollution out of the eyes and providing relief from blepharitis.
A warm compress can also be a great alternative for soothing irritated eyes, according to Rapaport. This compress, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 1,745 reviews on Amazon, has 30 self-heating eye compresses to relieve dry eyes, reduce eyelid inflammation and unblock glands in the eyes, according to the brand. Since they’re self-heating you don’t need to put them in the microwave and risk them getting too hot. You can also use your FSA funds to purchase these.
A humidifier also helps relieve dry eyes by adding moisture to an environment, like your bedroom. This 2.5-liter option has an auto shut-off feature and is BPA free. Humidifiers are great to have around especially if you have allergies and regularly get irritated eyes or experience dryness or allergies.
This reusable heat compress is another effective option for soothing irritated eyelids. It has a 4.5-star average rating from 28,518 reviews on Amazon, and helps treat symptoms related to dry eye, blepharitis, styes, inflammation and general eye discomfort, according to the brand. It’s also antibacterial and uses moist heat to relax eyes — just microwave the mask for up to 20 seconds and apply it for up to 10 minutes. You can also wash the eye pads by hand to make them fit for reuse.
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I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about deals and sale events, product reviews and roundups and articles on product recalls. I reviewed a statement issued by AvKare and researched documents from the FDA as well as spoke with a board-certified ophthalmologist for this story.