Update: Dr. Berne’s MSM Eye Drops Are Voluntarily Recalled
All eye drops from Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products are being recalled after FDA warning on August 24. There are 2 adverse reactions reported so far.
Check the brand of eye drops you use. Several have been recalled in the last 8 months, including Dr. Berne's.
(Adobe Stock 1280228575 by puhhha)
After the US Food and Drug Administration issued warnings to stop using and discard Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution on August 24, 2023, Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products has voluntarily recalled MSM Drops 5%, 15% Solution, Dr. Berne’s Organic Castor Oil Eye Drops and Dr. Berne’s MSM MIST 15% Solution. All lots for all products are being recalled.
According to the risk statement: “Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection. To date, Dr. Berne’s has received 2 reports of adverse events related to this recall.”
Dr. Berne's webstore distributed Dr. Berne's Organic Castor Oil Eye Drops and Dr. Berne's MSM MIST 15% Solution, both packaged in 30mL/1fl oz white plastic bottles, used as lubricating eye drops.
As Infection Control Today® reported, some of the contamination of the Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution were Bacillus, spp. and Exophiala, spp.
The FDA discovered contamination in recent batches of eye drops during testing, which violates the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that requires eye drops to be sterile for safe use.
The eye drop products from Dr. Berne contain the unapproved active ingredient, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and lack sterility. No ophthalmic drugs with MSM are legally marketed in the US.
Prior to this recall, the FDA warned against using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—Eye Repair due to bacterial and fungal contamination. FDA notified LightEyez Limited of contaminated products on August 21, 2023, but received no response. Additionally, the company has not taken action to protect consumers from using the contaminated eye drops, according to the FDA.
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
From Pandemic to Endemic: How the Protective Face Mask Market Is Evolving
August 1st 2025Once a symbol of crisis, face masks have evolved into everyday essentials—driven not only by pandemic preparedness but by rising air pollution, cultural shifts, and workplace safety regulations. As innovation and demand grow worldwide, the protective face mask market is poised for long-term expansion well beyond COVID-19.
Sharps Safety Starts with Us: Why Infection Preventionists Must Lead the Charge
August 1st 2025Sharps injuries remain a silent but serious threat in health care that infection preventionists are uniquely equipped to confront. With underreporting widespread and safety devices underused, it’s time for IPs to step into a leadership role, using their expertise in systems thinking, education, and policy to build a culture where staff protection is as prioritized as patient care.
The Green Revolution in SPD: From Hidden Cost to Frontline Change
August 1st 2025As climate change accelerates, health care’s environmental impact faces increased scrutiny, with sterile processing departments (SPDs) emerging as key change agents. Often behind the scenes, SPD professionals can lead sustainability by turning routine practices into ecofriendly protocols that protect both patient and planetary health.
