According
to the Food and Drug Administration, all contact lenses are regulated medical devices that
require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional. Some
websites advertise decorative contacts as if they were fashion accessories or
toys with fanciful, playful packaging in order to attract teens and young
adults, especially girls. The problem is not that people use decorative, non
corrective contact lenses-sometimes called Plano-or zero-powered lenses, but
that they buy the devices without a prescription through unlicensed vendors on
the Internet or at flea markets and specialty shops.
The
buyer of these over-the-counter contact lenses faces a huge risk including
scratched corneas, pink eye and more serious types of blinding infection as a
result of a corneal ulcer
In 2005, a federal law was passed that classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.
In 2005, a federal law was passed that classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.
The
safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires
proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for
serious eye problems from becoming a
reality. If you or a friend would like to learn more about contact lenses of
any type including decorative contacts please call Doctor &
Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor &Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to
schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
.
