Many use artificial tears to lubricate dry eyes, but a recent outbreak of infections highlights the need to optimize your health and reduce dependence on store-bought interventions.
Story at a Glance
- On Jan. 20, 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an investigation into a multistate cluster of infections from May 17, 2022, to Jan. 19, 2023, caused by Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with artificial tears.
- The infection was identified in 50 patients across 11 states, causing one death and at least three people to go blind in one eye.
- Antibiotic resistance has been rising since the discovery of penicillin and now contributes to 4.95 million deaths worldwide each year; without change, consumption of antibiotics is estimated to increase by 200 percent by 2030.
- Dry eye can be temporary from environmental factors like dry air or exposure to smoke, or it can be chronic. Data show optimizing vitamin D and omega-3 levels and using curcumin can all help ameliorate the symptoms of dry eye.
In late January 2023, a brand of eye drops marketed for dry eyes was connected to drug-resistant bacterial infections. [1] Eye lubricant drops are marketed to support your tears. Your eyes need tears to keep them wet, smooth, and to help focus light so you can see clearly. Your body uses tears to protect the eye from infections and foreign-body irritations, like dust and dirt.
