AvKARE Publishes Voluntary Recall Notice for BRS Over-the-Counter Eye Drops

The pharmaceutical retailer AvKARE has published a voluntary recall notice for five different types of eye drops previously available through the company’s online store. The recall involves products sold by BRS Analytical Service, LLC (“BRS”). According to AvKARE, BRS initiated the voluntary recall, “due to manufacturing cGMP deviations identified during an audit by FDA.” If you believe you have been harmed by any of the OTC eyedrops discussed in the recall, please email National Mass Tort Lawyer Cal Warriner today at calvinw@searcylaw.com or call him directly at 866-475-3708 for a free consultation to learn more. 

As AvKARE goes on to explain:

“cGMP deviations may lead to products of unacceptable quality, and it is not possible to rule out patient risks resulting from use of these products. . . . Further use of this product should immediately cease.”

NPR first reported the voluntary recall in May. In its reporting, NPR noted that the deviations cited in the recall notice, “could be anything from issues with packaging to problems that occurred during manufacturing.” To date, neither AvKARE nor BRS has identified the specific issue that triggered the voluntary recall, nor has either company publicly disclosed any specific health or safety concerns.

Recent Eye Drop Recall Echoes Past Recalls Involving Contamination

While it isn’t yet clear what risks the eye drops covered by BRS’s voluntary recall present, we have seen similar eye drop recalls in the past. For example, the FDA issued several warnings involving contaminated eye drops in 2023. In these cases, the primary concern was the risk of a bacterial infection caused by the contamination, which had the potential to lead to partial vision loss or blindness.

It is also worth noting that this isn’t the first time AvKARE has been involved in a voluntary pharmaceutical recall. Last year, AvKARE issued a recall for its Atovaquone Oral Suspension (USP 750mg/5mL) due to potential contamination with bacillus cereus. In that case, AvKARE warned of the possibility of “disseminated, life-threatening infections such as endocarditis and necrotizing soft tissue infections.”

Products Covered Under the BRS Eye Drop Recall

The current recall covers five different eye drop products sold by BRS and AvKARE between May 26, 2023 and April 21, 2025:

• NDC# 50268-043-15 Artificial Tears Ophthalmic Solution
• NDC# 50268-066-15 Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Gel 1%
• NDC# 50268-068-15 Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Ophthalmic Solution
• NDC# 50268-126-15 Lubricant Eye Drops Solution
• NDC# 50268-678-15 Polyvinyl Alcohol Ophthalmic Solution

The recalled BRS eye drops have expiration dates ranging from April 26, 2025 through March 27, 2027. AvKARE is encouraging purchasers to return the recalled products—and, again, it is advising that purchasers stop using the recalled eye drops “immediately.”

What Should You Do if You Purchased (or Used) Recalled Eye Drops?

If you have purchased (or used) eye drops covered under the recent BRS voluntary recall, what should you do?

While AvKARE is encouraging purchasers to return the recalled eye drops, this isn’t necessarily the best approach—especially if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an infection, vision loss, or another complication that you believe may be related to the recall. In this situation, you may have grounds to file a defective drug claim against AvKARE, BRS, or both.

If you have a defective drug claim, the eye drops that you purchased (or used) could be important evidence in support of your claim. You could also be entitled to far more than simply a refund for the price you paid (although no compensation is guaranteed). Our mass tort lawyers are currently evaluating these cases, and if you have questions about your legal rights, we invite you to contact us for a free and confidential consultation.

With this in mind, if you have concerns related to the recent BRS eye drop recall, you should:

1. Seek a Diagnosis and Keep Your (or Your Loved One’s) Medical Records

First and foremost, you should seek a diagnosis if you have not done so already. You should also keep your copies of your (or your loved one’s) medical records, as these will also be important evidence in support of your claim. With that said, if you don’t have copies of these records, our lawyers can obtain them for you.

2. Try to Locate Your Order Confirmation or Receipt

You should try to locate the order confirmation or receipt from when you (or your loved one) purchased the eye drops in question from AvKARE. If you can’t find any proof of purchase, write down approximately when you believe the purchase was made.

3. Schedule a Free Consultation with a Mass Tort Lawyer

If you have a claim against AvKARE or BRS (or both), you will need to hire an experienced mass tort lawyer to handle your claim on your behalf. While hiring a lawyer is not legally required, these are complex cases, and it will be important to have an experienced lawyer on your side.

What Are Your Legal Rights if You (or a Loved One) Used BRS’s Recalled Eye Drops?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an infection, full or partial blindness, or any other serious complication linked to BRS’s recalled eye drops, you have clear legal rights. These rights include:

• The right to seek just compensation for the financial and non-financial costs of your (or your loved one’s) diagnosis.
• The right to find out what BRS and AvKARE knew and when (although knowledge of a defect isn’t required to pursue a defective drug claim).
• The right to pursue your case in mass tort litigation (which will minimize the costs involved).
• The right to hire a lawyer to handle your claim on a contingency fee basis (which means you pay nothing unless you win).
• The right to make an informed decision about whether to participate in a global settlement (if a global settlement is on the table).

Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today

Do you have questions about filing a claim related to the BRS eye drop recall? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly so that we can assess your legal rights. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced mass tort lawyer at Searcy Denney, please call Attorney Cal Warriner at 866-475-3708 or email him directly at calvinw@searcylaw.com today.