If compounding pharmacies perform so poorly in this area, then it is certainly in the interest of the manufacturer to provide a better product for at least two

If compounding pharmacies perform so poorly in this area, then it is certainly in the interest of the manufacturer to provide a better product for at least two reasons. 1) If they know ophthalmologists will prescribe the safer product, and since the demand for this drug is relatively price-inelastic, they are able to raise prices drastically (hence the $1950 discrepancy). 2) If compounding pharmacies are the ones who are under-regulated, perhaps the manufacturer actually faces sufficient regulation. In this case, they face greater liability for sterility issues, and they have a strong incentive to enforce sterile procedures. The problem with the pharmacies is not so much that the worker is paid low wages or under-skilled, but rather, that the lack of regulatory burden limits the incentive to ensure safe procedures.