It happens like clockwork.
A major brand of eye drop or gel or ointment (or, maybe a scleral lens filling solution) goes on backorder at the manufacturer.
Soon, it starts re-appearing online at twice the price - or more. Sometimes the prices rise to dizzying heights.
Then vs now
"Back in the day", that trend might have been mostly about relatively normal people trying to make a buck buy over-buying for their needs and reselling during shortages.
But these days, scam pharma abounds. We are seeing clones, copies and counterfeits of major brands. Sellers are producing products that look so similar to the original that even experts can barely tell them apart. If you are not purchasing from someone in a closely controlled supply chain, you truly do not know what you are getting.
The critical sterility factor
Eye drops (and gels, and ointments, and scleral filling solutions) MUST be sterile in order to be safe for use in the eyes. Sterile ophthalmic manufacturing is not an amateur business. It's extremely challenging and requires a plethora of strict protocols, from testing component ingredients to the manufacturing process to testing of the finished product.
ONLY buy eye drops from trusted sellers!
Dry Eye Shop buys all eye drops, gels, ointments, salines and other liquid ophthalmic products direct from the manufacturer. This way we have confidence that the product is always authentic and stored propery, and we also get to learn promptly of any manufacturer shortages, backorders or recalls.
If this is not where you normally purchase, here are our suggestions for how to buy eye drops safely online:
- Buy direct from the manufacturer's own site. Most eye drop brands can be purchased on a website hosted by the manufacturer itself (exception: Systane).
- Buy from the AUTHORIZED Amazon store. Check eyedropsafety.org for info on verifying the authorized store. Please note that not all eye drop brands have an authorized store. For example, Oasis does not, and therefore should not be purchased on Amazon.
- Buy from a non-Amazon reseller that buys direct from the manufacturer. Ask your supplier whether they purchase direct from the manufacturer or from a distributor.
- Buy from bricks & mortar pharmacies. Bona fide pharmacies purchase through controlled supply chains that can be trusted to correctly handle drugs, conduct recalls, etc.