AT LEAST four eye drops have been recalled after contaminated products left a trail of victims.

Three people have died and four have had to have their eyeballs removed after contracting a rare superbug from eyedrops sold in US pharmacies.

Another eight people have lost vision in one or both their eyes.

The eyedrops in question are not sold in the UK.

Of the 68 people infected with the extremely rare bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, most reported using EzriCare Artificial Tears, a preservative-free over-the-counter product.

But up to 10 brands of eye drops were mentioned by victims, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

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News of the outbreak lead EzriCare's India-based manufacturer Global Pharma Healthcare to pull the eye drops from shelves in February.

It also recalled Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment, as these products have the same manufacturer as EzriCare.

Two further pharmaceutical companies recalled their eyedrops in the wake of the outbreak: Pharmedica USA pulled its Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops from and Apotex Corporation took down its Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%.

Though these eyedrops were not linked to the deaths, vision losses and eyeball removals, the manufacturers pulled them over fears they might not be sterile, the Washington Post reported.

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Pharmedica cautioned that using contaminated eye products could increase risk for infections that could result in blindness.

Meanwhile, Apotex pulled its eyedrops from shelves 'out of an abundance of caution 'due to cracks in some of the bottles’ caps', which could affect the product’s sterility, the company said.

David Chen, an ophthalmologist at Singapore’s National University Hospital, told the Washington Post that he does not believe people should worry about other brands which have not been recalled.

He advised exercising “general precaution when using artificial tears,” such as avoiding contaminating them with fingers and disposing of them within the advised time frame.

People with dry eyes often use artificial tears, as do those who wear contact lenses.

Many eye drops brands contain chemical preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as well as other ingredients.

Preservative-free products such as EzriCare and Purely Soothing contain mostly saline and distilled water.

People who with severe dry eye symptoms sometimes elect to use preservative-free eye drops to avoid the cumulative toxic effects of BAK.

If you do use preservative-free products, experts advise you stick to single-use bottles and vials rather than multiuse ones, and avoid touching the tip of the vial to your eye.

The incidents in the US have all been linked back to artificial tears found to be contaminated with a rare and extremely drug resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa- which is associated with multiple kinds of infections – has never been reported in the US prior to this outbreak, but has surfaced in sixteen states since January this year.

And so far, three people have died, eight have lost their vision in one or both their eyes and four have had their eyeballs surgically removed.

Most of these people reported using artificial tears.

The CDC identified the 16 states where patients are infected as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

The health watchdog is continuing to investigate the multistate outbreaks, it said.

And it urged patients who have noticed symptoms of an eye infection after using EzriCare or Delsam Pharma's artificial tears to get medical care 'immediately.'

According to the CDC eye infection symptoms may include:

• Yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Redness of the eye or eyelid
• Feeling of something in your eye (foreign body sensation)
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Blurry vision

Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria that lives in the environment and is commonly found in soil and water.

Its ultra resistant strain identified in the artificial tears is often the culprit behind blood and lung infections. People can also be infected by it after surgery.

It can spread in healthcare settings if people are then are exposed to water or soil with Pseudomonas aeruginosa germs, the CDC said.

Resistant strains of the germ can also spread in healthcare settings from one person to another through contaminated hands, equipment, or surfaces.

Patients in hospitals tend to be most at risk, according to the CDC, especially those:

• on breathing machines (ventilators)
• with devices such as catheters
• with wounds from surgery or burns

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But infection can be avoided if patients and caregivers wash their hands with soap and water frequently, and patients rooms are cleaned daily.

People who use reusable contact lenses are four times as likely as those wearing daily disposables to develop a sight-threatening eye infection.

How to prevent an eye infection

The NHS recommends you:

• wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water
• wash your pillow cases and face cloths in hot water and detergent
• cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and put used tissues in the bin

Do not:

• do not share towels and pillows
• do not rub your eyes

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