Food and drug safety ministry warns against putting cosmetics resembling artificial tears in eyes

The food and drug safety ministry said that cosmetics sold in containers resembling single-use artificial tears should not be put in the eyes, warning consumers that mistaking the products for artificial tears could cause eye injuries. The warning followed recent distribution and sales of cosmetics in forms similar to single-use artificial tears, the ministry said.

Cosmetics are products applied, rubbed or sprayed on the body's exterior. Putting a cosmetic in the eye can cause a foreign-body sensation, conjunctivitis or other eye damage. Anyone who has used a cosmetic in an eye after mistaking it for artificial tears should immediately rinse the eye with saline solution or clean water. If discomfort, pain or another abnormal symptom persists after washing, the person should promptly see an ophthalmologist.

Working with the Korea Consumer Agency, the ministry recommended that four companies distributing and selling cosmetics in similar forms change their containers and packaging so consumers do not mistake the products for artificial tears.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to pursue an amendment to the Cosmetics Act that would prohibit cosmetic containers or packaging that imitate medicines and could threaten public health. The ministry said it would "continue to strengthen cosmetics quality and safety management based on regulatory science so that people can use cosmetics safely in daily life."