Eye Drops Recalled, Clear Eyes, Rohto & K.C. Pharmaceuticals — Is Your Bottle Affected?

Check your eye drops before you use them again. Three separate recalls this year — Clear Eyes, Rohto Cooling Eye Drops, and K.C. Pharmaceuticals store-brand tears — cover tens of millions of bottles nationwide. All three share the same problem: the manufacturers can’t guarantee the products are free of bacteria or fungus. Here’s how to check what’s in your medicine cabinet.

Eye Drop Recalls 2026 — Key Facts

Products Recalled	Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief; Rohto Cooling Eye Drops (8 varieties); K.C. Pharmaceuticals store-brand tears (8 products, 26 retailer labels)
Reason	Lack of assurance of sterility / potential contamination
FDA Classification	Class II (all three recalls)
Total Units	39,060 (Clear Eyes) + ~12 million (Rohto) + 3,111,072 (K.C. Pharmaceuticals)
Injuries Reported	None specified in FDA recall notices as of this writing
Last Updated	August 20, 2026

Why Were These Eye Drops Recalled?

A Class II recall means using the product could cause temporary or reversible health problems, and serious harm is considered unlikely — but it’s not nothing. “Lack of assurance of sterility” means the manufacturer’s own testing or manufacturing process couldn’t confirm the bottles were free of harmful microorganisms. That’s a process failure, not necessarily proof that any specific bottle is contaminated. Still, eye tissue is a fast route for bacteria and fungus to cause real damage, which is exactly why the FDA treats it seriously even at Class II.

Putting a nonsterile drop in your eye isn’t like taking a nonsterile pill. Your eye has almost no immune defense of its own, so an infection there can escalate quickly.

Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief

Distributed by Medtech Products Inc., a Prestige Brands Holdings subsidiary. The recall was initiated July 29, 2026, and the FDA assigned it Class II status on August 14.

• Product: Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief, 0.5 fl oz dropper bottle
• Lot number: 2552A
• Expiration date: 09/30/2027
• NDC: 67172-999-01
• Recall number: D-0766-2026
• Sold at: Kroger, Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle, Meijer

Only this one lot is affected — not every bottle of Maximum Itchy Eye Relief, and not other Clear Eyes products.

Rohto Cooling Eye Drops

Manufactured by Rohto-Mentholatum in Vietnam, distributed nationwide by The Mentholatum Company. The recall was initiated July 14, 2026, and covers select lots across eight product lines: ALL-IN-ONE, Max Strength, Max Strength Twin Pack, Optic Glow, Digi Eye, Dry Aid, Dry Aid Twin Pack, and Cool Relief.

Affected lots carry expiration dates ranging from July 2026 through February 2029, so bottles currently on shelves and already at home can both be included. Mentholatum is offering refunds or replacements for any recalled bottle, whether or not it’s been opened.

K.C. Pharmaceuticals Store-Brand Eye Drops

This is the largest of the three by volume. K.C. Pharmaceuticals, based in Pomona, California, initiated the recall March 3, 2026, and the FDA classified it Class II on March 31. It affects 3,111,072 bottles across eight product types sold under roughly 26 store-brand names, including Kroger, H-E-B, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Recalled product types:

• Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops
• Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops
• Sterile Eye Drops (Original Formula, A.C., Redness Lubricant, Regular)
• Advanced Relief Eye Drops
• Soothing Tears Eye Drops

Expiration dates run from April 30 through October 31, 2026. Lot codes generally start with prefixes like AC, AR, LT, SU, RG, RL, SY, or AT — check yours against the retailer’s specific recall notice, since the same K.C. Pharmaceuticals product is sold under different names depending on the store.

This isn’t K.C. Pharmaceuticals’ first sterility issue. The FDA also flagged the company in 2023, which makes this the second time in three years its eye drop manufacturing has drawn a federal recall.

What Should You Do Right Now?

1. Check your bottle against the lot number, expiration date, and NDC or UPC code for your specific product above.
2. Stop using any bottle that matches. Don’t finish it out first.
3. Don’t throw it away yet if you’re experiencing symptoms — keep it in case a doctor or the FDA needs to identify it.
4. Return the bottle to where you bought it for a refund, or contact the manufacturer directly (Mentholatum: 1-877-636-2677).
5. Watch for redness, pain, discharge, blurred vision, or light sensitivity that’s new or getting worse.
6. If you notice any of those symptoms, see a doctor or eye care provider right away rather than waiting it out.

If you’ve already finished a recalled bottle with no problems, there’s no reason to panic — a recall means the sterility of the batch couldn’t be confirmed, not that every bottle was contaminated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Clear Eyes, Rohto, and K.C. Pharmaceuticals eye drops all part of the same recall? 

No. These are three separate, unrelated recalls that happened to occur close together in 2026. Each has its own manufacturer, lot numbers, and FDA recall number.

Is it safe to use eye drops from these brands if my bottle isn’t on the recall list?

 Yes, based on current FDA information. Each recall applies only to specific lots and expiration dates, not the entire product line.

What does “lack of assurance of sterility” actually mean?

It means the manufacturer couldn’t confirm through testing that the product was free of bacteria or fungus during manufacturing. It doesn’t automatically mean every bottle is contaminated, but the FDA treats it as a real risk given how the eye is exposed to infection.

Has anyone been hurt by these recalled eye drops? 

As of this writing, the FDA recall notices for these three actions don’t cite specific reported injuries. Report any reaction you experience to the FDA’s MedWatch program at fda.gov/safety/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Should I talk to a lawyer if I used a recalled product and got an eye infection?

 If you believe a recalled eye drop caused you an injury, a product liability attorney can help you understand your options. Keep the bottle, your receipt, and any medical records documenting the injury.

Sources

• FDA Enforcement Report — Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief, Recall No. D-0766-2026
• FDA Enforcement Report — Rohto Cooling Eye Drops, Class II recall, initiated July 14, 2026
• FDA Enforcement Report — K.C. Pharmaceuticals eye drop products, Class II recall, initiated March 3, 2026
• FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against FDA enforcement reports and manufacturer recall notices on August 20, 2026. Last Updated: August 20, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. If you’re experiencing an eye injury or infection, see a doctor. For advice about a legal claim, consult a qualified attorney.