CVS, Walgreens ordered by FDA stop selling unapproved eye products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a message to CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance regarding the manufacturing and marketing of unapproved eye products — don’t do it.

In a letter to eight companies, the FDA pointed to eye products that were being illegally marketed to treat conditions like conjunctivitis, cataract, and glaucoma, according to reporting from Reuters. The agency said the products could be harmful to consumers because they can bypass some of the body’s natural defenses.

Furthermore, some of the drugs listed silver as an ingredient. Walgreens and CVS both carry these types of products, and the FDA ordered both companies to stop selling the products, as long-term use of drugs containing silver could lead to damage to the skin and eyes, along with other body tissues, to turn gray or blue-gray permanently.

CVS and Walgreens said they have removed the products related to the FDA warning, and customers who purchased the drugs could receive a full refund.