The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has notified all its members of an 11-state outbreak of serious infections which the CDC has linked to Ezri Care Artificial Tears.

50 patients; one death

Fifty patients have been affected; thirty-eight are part of four “facility clusters”.

According to the AAO’s statement:

Patient outcomes include permanent vision loss resulting from ocular infection, hospitalization, and death of one patient with bloodstream infection.

Download AAO Statement

What is Ezri Care?

Ezri Care Artificial Tears are sold as a generic for Refresh Plus. However, they are 1% carboxymethylcellulose sodium which is actually more similar to Refresh Celluvisc. It is preservative-free, but sold in a standard multi-dose bottle, a dangerous practice about which the Dry Eye Foundation has been working hard to educate the patient community. (See Dr. Brown’s presentation on Frankenstein bottles.)