FDA Warning about These Two Eye Drops
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) is warning consumers not to purchase and to immediately stop using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair (both products shown at right) due to bacterial contamination, fungal contamination, or both.
Dr. Berne’s products are distributed by Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products; LightEyez’ products are distributed by LightEyez Limited.
FDA recommends consumers properly discard these products as FDA describes. Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection.
FDA is not aware of any adverse event reports associated with use of either products at this time. Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their eye doctor or otherwise seek medical care immediately.
The Dr. Berne’s and LightEyez eye drop products also contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as an active ingredient. These products are unapproved drugs and illegally marketed in the U.S. There are no legally marketed ophthalmic drugs that contain MSM as an active ingredient.
September is Sports Eye Safety Month
Nearly 30,000 sports-related eye injuries are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year. The good news is that 90% of serious eye injuries could be prevented by wearing appropriate protective eyewear.
How to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries
Different activities and sports have different levels of risk for eye injury. Make sure that you’re using the right kind of eye protection for each activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection and in some cases can make an injury worse if they shatter.
Be careful during activities or games involving projectiles and other sharp objects that could create injury if in contact with the eye.
If you have an eye injury go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury appears minor. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
What Sports Cause Eye Injuries?
Eye injuries can happen in almost any sport, but some sports are higher risk than others.
Basketball causes most sports eye injuries in the U.S.
One study found that basketball was the leading cause of sports-related eye injuries in the United States followed by baseball, softball, airsoft rifles, pellet guns, racquetball and hockey.
Protective sports glasses with shatterproof plastic, called polycarbonate lenses, should be worn for sports such as basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey. Choose eye protectors that have been tested to meet the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards or that pass the CSA racquet sports standard. Read our full guidelines about protective eyewear for sports and activities for additional details.
Learn more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Call NOW to have your child fitted for sports safety eye protection:
Can Ozempic Affect Eye Health? Here’s What You Should Know
The diabetes drug semaglutide has been making headline news since the medications Ozempic and Rybelsus received FDA approval to help people with diabetes control their blood sugar. Wegovy is a similar medication approved for obesity treatment.
Results of the Ozempic studies show semaglutide can significantly help people control their blood sugar. But the studies also showed it can cause vision changes, including blurred vision, worsening of diabetic retinopathy and macular complications. So, do the benefits outweigh the risks?
What is semaglutide and how does it affect the eyes?
Semaglutide helps people lose weight and control their blood sugar by releasing the hormone that makes us feel full while eating. This hormone, called GLP-1, also prompts the body to create more insulin, which reduces blood sugar.
When the body experiences a change in sugar level, it can affect the shape of the eye’s lens. This change is what causes blurry vision, a side effect of semaglutide.
Older patients are more likely to experience blurred vision when beginning the medication, said retina specialist Raj Maturi, MD. This is because the eye’s lens becomes less flexible as we age, so vision takes longer to stabilize when the body experiences these changes in blood sugar levels.
“The good news is that this is a temporary side effect, usually subsiding after three or four months,” said Dr. Maturi.
Learn more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
What Are You Reading These Days?
We’ve noticed that many of our patients enjoy reading a good book. We collect recommendations for a “good read,” and share them in our newsletter.
Below are reading recommendations for September 2023.
Have a reading recommendation? Email it to our Newsletter Editor.
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Big Back-to-School Special: Buy One, Get 50% off Second Pair
Valid through October 15th, 2023
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