Systane Lawsuit Claims Eye Drops Falsely Advertised as Preservative-Free

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims that Alcon Laboratories, Inc. misleadingly advertises that its Systane-brand eye drops are preservative-free in that the products contain boric acid, a common preservative.

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The 16-page complaint contends that the inclusion of boric acid in Systane eye drops contradicts the product’s preservative-free labeling because the compound is synthetic and used to extend shelf life by inhibiting bacterial growth.

According to the lawsuit, boric acid is commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products due to its antimicrobial properties, which can help prevent bacterial growth after contamination during product use.

“Defendant knew that their representations and omissions were untrue and misleading, and deliberately made the aforementioned representations and omissions in order to deceive reasonable consumers,” the filing states.

Per the suit, Alcon’s labeling of the Systane eye drops as preservative-free increased consumer demand for the product “based on the perceived features or benefits,” which thereby increased the price for which the eye drops could be sold.

Because consumers have no reasonable way to independently verify the accuracy of preservative-free claims, they must rely on product labeling and advertising set out by the manufacturer when making purchasing decisions, the case argues.

“Defendant coerced consumers to base their purchasing decision in material part on false claims, thereby fraudulently, deceptively, and unfairly increasing consumer demand for the product,” the complaint contends.

The plaintiff, a California resident, purchased Systane eye drops from Amazon.com in September 2025 based on representations that the product was preservative-free.

Because the drops were allegedly mislabeled, the plaintiff did not obtain the benefit of their bargain and was denied accurate information required under California consumer protection laws, including the state’s False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law, the complaint claims.

The Systane eye drop class action lawsuit seeks to represent all people in the United States who purchased Systane products within four years before the filing of the original complaint on April 1, 2026, through the date of class certification.

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