Why Is Eyemycin So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If you've been prescribed Eyemycin — the brand name for erythromycin ophthalmic ointment — and can't find it at your pharmacy, you're not alone. This antibiotic eye ointment has one of the most troubled supply histories of any medication in the United States, with shortages stretching back to 2009. In 2026, patients and providers are still reporting difficulty finding it consistently stocked.

Here's everything you need to know about why Eyemycin is hard to find, who makes it, and what steps you can take to locate it.

What Is Eyemycin?

Eyemycin is a brand name for erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5% — a macrolide antibiotic used to treat bacterial eye infections and to prevent a dangerous newborn eye infection called ophthalmia neonatorum. It's the only FDA-approved ointment for neonatal eye infection prophylaxis still commercially available in the United States, which makes its shortage particularly critical.

Note: The Eyemycin brand name itself has been discontinued. However, generic erythromycin ophthalmic ointment 0.5% — manufactured by Bausch & Lomb — remains the FDA-approved equivalent that patients and providers continue to search for under the Eyemycin name.

Why Has Eyemycin Been in Shortage for So Long?

The root of the Eyemycin shortage problem is simple: too few manufacturers. Here's the timeline of how we got here:

2009: The first major national shortage hit when Fougera, a leading manufacturer, ceased production. Fera Pharmaceuticals acquired the rights and worked to restore supply.

2019–2021: The FDA officially listed an active shortage from March 2019 to May 2021. The CDC issued interim recommendations for neonatal prophylaxis alternatives.

February 2023: Akorn Inc., a major generic drug manufacturer, ceased all operations — eliminating another source of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment.

August 2023: Padagis discontinued all erythromycin ophthalmic ointment presentations, leaving the market with fewer options than ever.

2024–2026: New York State's Department of Health issued guidance to hospitals in January 2024 and again in February 2026 — acknowledging an ongoing shortage of erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment and outlining protocols for neonatal care when it is unavailable.

Today, Bausch & Lomb is the primary commercial manufacturer of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment in the United States. With just one major supplier serving the entire country, any disruption to their production line creates immediate availability problems nationwide.

Why Is This Drug So Critical for Newborns?

Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is the only ointment currently FDA-approved and commercially available in the U.S. for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum — a bacterial eye infection that can occur when newborns pass through the birth canal of a mother with gonorrhea or chlamydia. Without treatment, this condition can cause corneal scarring, perforation, and even blindness within 24 hours of birth.

The other agents that once served this role — 1% tetracycline ophthalmic ointment and 1% silver nitrate — are no longer commercially available in the United States. This makes erythromycin ophthalmic ointment irreplaceable for hospitals and birthing centers, and means every available tube must be prioritized for neonatal use during shortage periods.

Does the Shortage Affect Adult Patients Too?

Yes. Adults prescribed erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or corneal infections may also struggle to find it in stock. During severe shortage periods, the FDA, CDC, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery have recommended that non-neonatal patients be switched to alternative antibiotics, reserving limited erythromycin supply for newborns.

This guidance has led to a significant increase in prescriptions for alternatives like azithromycin ophthalmic solution (AzaSite), tobramycin, bacitracin, and fluoroquinolone eye drops. Some ophthalmologists note that erythromycin's clinical usefulness had already been declining even before the shortage, due to Staphylococcal resistance rates reaching as high as 70% in some studies.

What Can You Do If You Can't Find Eyemycin?

If your pharmacy is out of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, here are your options:

Call multiple pharmacies. Availability varies widely by location and chain. Independent pharmacies may carry stock that major chains don't.

Use medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones can fill your prescription — saving you hours of phone calls.

Talk to your prescriber about alternatives. Tobramycin ophthalmic drops, bacitracin ophthalmic ointment, and fluoroquinolone drops are all effective for many bacterial eye infections. Read our full guide on

Try a compounding pharmacy. Some compounding pharmacies can prepare erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment when commercial supply is unavailable.

Will the Eyemycin Shortage Get Better?

The root cause — consolidation of manufacturers — is a structural problem. With Akorn and Padagis out of the market and only Bausch & Lomb remaining as a major commercial supplier, the U.S. supply chain for erythromycin ophthalmic ointment remains fragile. Any manufacturing disruption at Bausch & Lomb creates a nationwide shortage almost immediately.

For now, the best strategy for patients is to work with their provider to identify the right alternative, and to use a pharmacy-finding service to locate available stock when erythromycin is specifically needed. Check our

For the latest updates, see our Eyemycin shortage update for 2026 and our guide on how to find Eyemycin in stock near you.