Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Carboxymethylcellulose side effects: what 481 FDA adverse event reports show

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, Glycerin, And Polysorbate 80 · 29 reaction terms · 621 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14

Drug class

Non-Standardized Chemical Allergen

FDA label (Established Pharmacologic Class) of the closest related product

Label matched

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, Glycerin, And Polysorbate 80 (Refresh Optive Advanced)

closest FDA label found for this product string; brand list suppressed because the label is a related product, not an exact match

Who reports

481 reports · 38% serious · 5 with death outcome · 81% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun. May be used as a protectant against further irritation.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

Boxed warning

None in the current label

How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 16 strongest signals

Reporting / coding artifact 2No label text to screen 14

What the badges mean

Reporting / coding artifact An administrative, monitoring or exposure term (product issue, off-label use, 'test normal', overdose...). Not a biological reaction; a high PRR here reflects how reports are coded.
Not in label — unassessed Not found in the label text, not an artifact pattern. This is a genuine candidate for a formal causality assessment (Bradford Hill / WHO-UMC); it has NOT had one here.
No label text to screen No validated FDA label was retrievable for this product, so the screen could not run. Disproportionality only.

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers rather than clinicians. 13 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show: hide coding/lab/outcome terms hide indication terms unlabeled only hide PRR-only

Reaction	Reports	PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p	EBGM EB05 · IC025	Label screen	Serious-only & strata	Trial cross-check
Eye discharge	23	98.4 66.0–146.6ROR 103.2 · χ² 2,116 / p <1e-300	90.9 EB05 63.8 · IC025 +4.3 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious n=3 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Eye irritation	125	98.0 84.2–113.9ROR 132.0 · χ² 11,905 / p <1e-300	96.3 EB05 83.0 · IC025 +5.8 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 143.2 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Ocular discomfort	18	72.4 46.0–113.9ROR 75.1 · χ² 1,195 / p 3e-262	67.3 EB05 45.0 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious n=2	no trial data cached
Eye pain	69	54.5 43.8–67.9ROR 63.5 · χ² 3,578 / p <1e-300	53.7 EB05 43.9 · IC025 +4.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 36.3 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Dry eye	50	45.0 34.6–58.6ROR 50.1 · χ² 2,112 / p <1e-300	44.3 EB05 34.9 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 71.4 · 82% consumer	no trial data cached
Photophobia (light sensitivity)	19	44.4 28.6–69.0ROR 46.2 · χ² 763 / p 3e-168	42.6 EB05 28.8 · IC025 +3.6 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 46.3	no trial data cached
Macular degeneration	12	43.9 25.1–76.8ROR 45.0 · χ² 461 / p 1e-102	41.2 EB05 25.1 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 72.5	no trial data cached
Incorrect product storage	11	36.0 20.1–64.6ROR 36.8 · χ² 340 / p 3e-76	34.0 EB05 20.2 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree	Reporting / coding artifact	serious n=1	no trial data cached
Cataract	48	35.3 27.0–46.2ROR 39.1 · χ² 1,569 / p <1e-300	34.8 EB05 27.3 · IC025 +4.2 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 48.1 · 90% consumer	no trial data cached
Lacrimation increased	24	35.0 23.7–51.8ROR 36.8 · χ² 761 / p 1e-167	34.2 EB05 24.2 · IC025 +3.7 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 34.8 · 83% consumer	no trial data cached
Ocular hyperaemia	34	31.7 23.0–43.9ROR 34.1 · χ² 983 / p 4e-216	31.2 EB05 23.4 · IC025 +3.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 16.8 · 91% consumer	no trial data cached
Eye disorder	17	22.6 14.2–36.1ROR 23.4 · χ² 330 / p 4e-74	22.1 EB05 14.5 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 38.1	no trial data cached
Eye pruritus	16	21.2 13.1–34.3ROR 21.9 · χ² 288 / p 7e-65	20.6 EB05 13.2 · IC025 +2.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 22.5	no trial data cached
Vision blurred (blurred vision)	56	17.9 14.0–22.9ROR 20.1 · χ² 881 / p 7e-194	17.8 EB05 14.2 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 15.9 · 80% consumer	no trial data cached
Visual acuity reduced	10	13.0 7.1–24.0ROR 13.3 · χ² 99 / p 1e-23	11.1 EB05 5.6 · IC025 +2.0 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 10.7	no trial data cached
Inappropriate schedule of drug administration	14	8.5 5.0–14.2ROR 8.7 · χ² 85 / p 1e-20	7.1 EB05 4.3 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree	Reporting / coding artifact	serious PRR 6.4	no trial data cached

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Trial cross-check not yet run for this drug (ClinicalTrials.gov pull covers the 800 most-reported drugs first).

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

Reaction	Reports	PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p	EBGM EB05 · IC025	Label screen	Serious-only & strata	Trial cross-check
Eye irritation	125	98.0 84.2–113.9ROR 132.0 · χ² 11,905 / p <1e-300	96.3 EB05 83.0 · IC025 +5.8 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 143.2 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Eye pain	69	54.5 43.8–67.9ROR 63.5 · χ² 3,578 / p <1e-300	53.7 EB05 43.9 · IC025 +4.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 36.3 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Vision blurred (blurred vision)	56	17.9 14.0–22.9ROR 20.1 · χ² 881 / p 7e-194	17.8 EB05 14.2 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 15.9 · 80% consumer	no trial data cached
Dry eye	50	45.0 34.6–58.6ROR 50.1 · χ² 2,112 / p <1e-300	44.3 EB05 34.9 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 71.4 · 82% consumer	no trial data cached
Cataract	48	35.3 27.0–46.2ROR 39.1 · χ² 1,569 / p <1e-300	34.8 EB05 27.3 · IC025 +4.2 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 48.1 · 90% consumer	no trial data cached
Ocular hyperaemia	34	31.7 23.0–43.9ROR 34.1 · χ² 983 / p 4e-216	31.2 EB05 23.4 · IC025 +3.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 16.8 · 91% consumer	no trial data cached
Lacrimation increased	24	35.0 23.7–51.8ROR 36.8 · χ² 761 / p 1e-167	34.2 EB05 24.2 · IC025 +3.7 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 34.8 · 83% consumer	no trial data cached
Eye discharge	23	98.4 66.0–146.6ROR 103.2 · χ² 2,116 / p <1e-300	90.9 EB05 63.8 · IC025 +4.3 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious n=3 · 87% consumer	no trial data cached
Photophobia (light sensitivity)	19	44.4 28.6–69.0ROR 46.2 · χ² 763 / p 3e-168	42.6 EB05 28.8 · IC025 +3.6 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 46.3	no trial data cached
Ocular discomfort	18	72.4 46.0–113.9ROR 75.1 · χ² 1,195 / p 3e-262	67.3 EB05 45.0 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious n=2	no trial data cached
Eye disorder	17	22.6 14.2–36.1ROR 23.4 · χ² 330 / p 4e-74	22.1 EB05 14.5 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 38.1	no trial data cached
Eye pruritus	16	21.2 13.1–34.3ROR 21.9 · χ² 288 / p 7e-65	20.6 EB05 13.2 · IC025 +2.9 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 22.5	no trial data cached
Inappropriate schedule of drug administration	14	8.5 5.0–14.2ROR 8.7 · χ² 85 / p 1e-20	7.1 EB05 4.3 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree	Reporting / coding artifact	serious PRR 6.4	no trial data cached
Macular degeneration	12	43.9 25.1–76.8ROR 45.0 · χ² 461 / p 1e-102	41.2 EB05 25.1 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree	No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text	serious PRR 72.5	no trial data cached
Incorrect product storage	11	36.0 20.1–64.6ROR 36.8 · χ² 340 / p 3e-76	34.0 EB05 20.2 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree	Reporting / coding artifact	serious n=1	no trial data cached

Unlabeled candidate signals

Every screened signal with n ≥ 20 was either labeled, an indication term, or an artifact pattern — no unlabeled candidate stood out in the top signals.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Carboxymethylcellulose?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Carboxymethylcellulose are eye irritation, eye pain, vision blurred, dry eye, cataract, ocular hyperaemia. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Carboxymethylcellulose have an FDA boxed warning?

No. The FDA label retrieved for Carboxymethylcellulose has no boxed warning; see the label's Warnings and Precautions for the recognised risks.

Do FAERS signals prove that Carboxymethylcellulose causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

FDA label via openFDA (set ID aaa943e4-7c38-4c5a-b7c0-5a656d8cafc0, effective 20220901; matched on openfda.generic_name.exact:"CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SODIUM, GLYCERIN, AND POLYSORBATE 80")
Bayesian shrinkage measures computed offline over all 1,317,300 cached pairs: BCPNN information component (IC, with Norén closed-form IC025) and MGPS empirical-Bayes geometric mean (EBGM, EB05) with a two-component gamma prior fitted by maximum marginal likelihood (α₁=0.57, β₁=0.02, α₂=1.42, β₂=0.70, w=0.17); unstratified
FAERS pair statistics from the OpenPV build of 2026-09-14 (openFDA count= aggregation, field patient.drug.openfda.generic_name.exact, 29 reaction terms, min 3 co-reports); PRR/ROR with 95% CI, chi-square with Yates correction
Serious-only and stratified counts (serious:1, patient.patientsex, primarysource.qualification) from openFDA count queries; serious-only PRR uses the drug serious report total and the term global serious total (N_serious=11,882,979); strata shown only when n ≥ 20
Seriousness and sex counts from openFDA count=serious, patient.patientsex, seriousnessdeath

Page generated 2026-10-08. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.