Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning for consumers to immediately discontinue the use of certain over-the-counter eye drops. Some scary stuff for sure, because these are common lubricating/dry eye drops branded from major retailers, including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart. Other brands include Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby, and Velocity Pharma.
It was reported that the drops were manufactured under unsanitary and unsterile conditions which could cause eye infections/loss of vision. Unfortunately, this same thing happened earlier this year (twice!).
Patients who have any signs or symptoms of an eye infection (redness, discharge, pain, sensitivity to light) should seek immediate medical care. But some good news: as of November 3, 2023, CVS, Target, and Rite Aid have pulled the drops from their stores and websites.
Surgeons Announce World’s First Eye Transplant
As reported by Reuters on November 10, 2023, the first-ever eye transplant was successfully done in a human. The patient, Aaron James from Arkansas, sustained a work-related high voltage electrical accident which destroyed the entire left side of his face. After receiving a partial face transplant, he underwent 21 (yes — TWENTY-ONE) hours of surgery to transplant the entire eyeball. Although he can not see out the eye, the grafted eye appears healthy 6 months post-op.
The lead surgeon, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, is thrilled, saying “The mere fact that we transplanted an eye is a huge step forward, something that for centuries has been thought about but never performed.” There is no communication from the eye to the brain via the optic nerve as of yet, but Dr. Rodriguez is hopeful that it may still occur so that some vision may be restored.
Some One-Liners for the Upcoming Holidays
You know you’re over 50 when you have “upstairs ibuprofen” and “downstairs ibuprofen.”
Anyone who says their wedding day was the best day of their life has clearly never had two candy bars fall down at once from a vending machine.
The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren’t a robot.
It’s weird being the same age as old people.
Last night the internet went out so I spent some time with my family. They seem like good people.
When a kid says “Daddy, I want mommy” that’s the kid version of saying “I’d like to speak to your supervisor.”
Last Thing — Check this out!
I love this stuff because I have no idea how it works.
Very good information.
The one-liners were funny!