---
title: "Millions of prescription eye drops are recalled over a foreign substance"
description: "More than 2.5 million bottles of a widely used prescription steroid eye drop have been recalled nationwide after a foreign substance was found in some of them, a precautionary step regulators classified as a moderate-level recall. No injuries have been reported."
category: "U.S."
category_url: https://herald.la/category/us
author: "Mei-Lin Tang"
published: 2026-07-09T13:52:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-09T13:52:00.000Z
canonical: https://herald.la/article/millions-of-prescription-eye-drops-are-recalled-over-a-foreign-substance
tags: ["health", "recall", "fda", "eye-drops", "consumer-safety"]
---
# Millions of prescription eye drops are recalled over a foreign substance

More than 2.5 million bottles of a widely used prescription steroid eye drop have been recalled nationwide after a foreign substance was found in some of them, a precautionary step regulators classified as a moderate-level recall. No injuries have been reported.

If you use prescription eye drops, it is worth checking the bottle. A large recall is pulling millions of units of a common steroid eye medication from shelves across the country.

## What's being recalled

The drugmaker Lupin Limited is recalling about 2.5 million bottles of prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension, a prescription steroid eye drop, after a foreign substance was discovered in some bottles, [The Hill reported](https://thehill.com/business/5960408-millions-eye-drops-recall-contamination/). The affected product is the 1 percent suspension, sold in 5-, 10- and 15-milliliter bottles.

## How serious it is

The Food and Drug Administration classified the action as a Class II recall, its designation for products that may cause temporary or reversible health problems, rather than the most severe category. The exact nature of the foreign substance has not been publicly detailed. Because eye drops are placed directly into the eye, contamination can, in general, raise the risk of irritation or infection, which is why such recalls are handled cautiously even when no harm has been reported.

## What prednisolone is for

Prednisolone acetate is prescribed to reduce inflammation, redness and swelling in the eye, often after surgery or an infection. It is a routine medication, which is part of why a recall of this size is worth flagging: a lot of people may have a bottle in the medicine cabinet.

## What to do

Consumers should check the product name, the strength and the lot number and expiration date on their bottle against the FDA's recall listing, which includes the specific lot numbers affected. Anyone who has a recalled bottle should contact their pharmacist or eye doctor about a replacement, and should not simply stop using prescribed eye drops without medical advice, since doing so could worsen the condition being treated. As of now, no injuries tied to the recall have been reported.