The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an expanded safety communication Sunday urging consumers to immediately stop using eye drops from eight brands recalled this week, as major pharmacy chains confirmed they had pulled remaining inventory from shelves nationwide. The recall, which affects more than 3 million bottles sold at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and other national retailers, was originally flagged due to sterility concerns and potential contamination risks that could lead to serious eye infections or vision loss.

FDA officials confirmed Sunday that agency inspectors had identified additional lot numbers beyond those named in the initial recall notice, prompting the broader advisory. The agency urged consumers who purchased any of the affected brands over the past 12 months to discard them immediately and consult a pharmacist or physician before purchasing replacement products. The FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said it was working with the manufacturers to determine the scope of any microbial contamination found during facility inspections.

CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance both issued statements Sunday morning confirming full compliance with the recall and noting that staff had been instructed to remove affected products from shelves and online fulfilment centres as of Saturday evening. Both chains said customers who had purchased recalled products could return them for a full refund without a receipt. Walgreens added that it was proactively contacting pharmacy loyalty programme members who had purchased the flagged SKUs in recent months.

Opthalmologists and optometrists raised concern Sunday about the timing of the recall heading into spring allergy season, when over-the-counter eye drop usage typically spikes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology urged patients experiencing redness, irritation or discharge after using any recalled product to seek medical evaluation promptly, warning that contaminated drops could introduce bacteria directly onto the ocular surface. The organisation said it was coordinating with the FDA to publish a patient guidance document later in the week.

The recall is the largest involving ophthalmic products in the United States since 2023, when a global dye contamination crisis linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears resulted in dozens of serious infections and several deaths. Regulators and patient advocates said Sunday's expanded advisory underscored the need for stricter manufacturing oversight of non-prescription eye care products, many of which are produced at overseas facilities subject to less frequent FDA inspection cycles.