3 Million Eye Drops Recalled at CVS, Walgreens, and Other Retailers

K.C. Pharmaceuticals Inc., a private label manufacturer, has issued a voluntary recall for 3,111,072 bottles of eye drops distributed to several major nationwide retailers. The recall follows concerns regarding a lack of assurance of sterility in the products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assigned the recall a Class II designation on March 31, 2026. The agency defines a Class II recall as a situation in which the use of the affected product may cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

The voluntary recall was initially issued by K.C. Pharmaceuticals on March 3, 2026. The affected products were sold under various brand names and distributed to a wide network of retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, Meijer and H-E-B.

Affected Products and Volume

The recall encompasses eight product batches with expiration dates ranging from April to October. The largest portion of the recall involves Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops, with 1,023,096 bottles affected. These were sold at military exchanges and stores including Harris Teeter, Meijer, H-E-B, and Rite Aid.

Other significant volumes included in the recall are:

• Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops: 589,848 bottles, sold at Publix, Kroger, Leader, TopCare, and through Good Sense and Good Neighbor Pharmacy.
• Sterile Eye Drops Original Formula: 378,144 bottles, sold at Circle K, Dollar General, Leader, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens.
• Sterile Eye Drops Redness Lubricant: 315,144 bottles.
• Eye Drops Advanced Relief: 303,216 bottles.
• Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops: 245,184 bottles.
• Sterile Eye Drops AC: 182,424 bottles.

Retail Distribution and Branding

Because K.C. Pharmaceuticals operates as a private label maker, the recalled drops were sold under multiple store-specific and third-party brands. These include Best Choice, CVS, Discount Drug Mart, Gericare, Kroger, and Walgreens.

Additional brands and distributors associated with the recall include CareOne, Equaline, TopCare Health, and Meijer. The distribution network spans major pharmacy chains and grocery retailers across the United States.

Consumer Identification

The FDA and distributors have indicated that affected bottles can be identified using several markers printed on the packaging. Consumers are advised to check the Universal Product Code (UPC) or National Drug Code (NDC) numbers, which are typically located near the barcode.

the lot code number printed on the bottle serves as a primary identifier for the recalled batches. For example, the Sterile Eye Drops A.C. (0.5 fl oz) with lot code AC24E01 and an expiration date of May 31 is among the impacted products.