Missouriwatcher
Editor, Senior Moderator
Laura Butler paid $30 for her decorative lenses and $2,000 in medical bills. And she nearly lost an eye.
...But before buying decorative lenses, here?s what you should know:
They are not cosmetics or over-the-counter merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
They are not ?one size fits all.? An eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including
scratches on the cornea (the top layer of your eyeball)
corneal infection (an ulcer on the cornea)
conjunctivitis (pink eye)
decreased vision
blindness
Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses.
Failure to use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections, says Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at FDA. ?Bacterial infections can be extremely rapid, result in corneal ulcers, and cause blindness?sometimes within as little as 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated promptly.?
?The problem isn?t with the decorative contacts themselves,? adds Lepri. ?It?s the way people use them improperly?without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care.?
Where NOT to Buy Contact Lenses
FDA is aware that many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions for as little as $20.
You should never buy lenses from:
street vendors
salons or beauty supply stores
boutiques
flea markets
novelty stores
Halloween stores
record or video stores
convenience stores
beach shops
Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)
These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law...
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm275069.htm
...But before buying decorative lenses, here?s what you should know:
They are not cosmetics or over-the-counter merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
They are not ?one size fits all.? An eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including
scratches on the cornea (the top layer of your eyeball)
corneal infection (an ulcer on the cornea)
conjunctivitis (pink eye)
decreased vision
blindness
Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses.
Failure to use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections, says Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at FDA. ?Bacterial infections can be extremely rapid, result in corneal ulcers, and cause blindness?sometimes within as little as 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated promptly.?
?The problem isn?t with the decorative contacts themselves,? adds Lepri. ?It?s the way people use them improperly?without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care.?
Where NOT to Buy Contact Lenses
FDA is aware that many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions for as little as $20.
You should never buy lenses from:
street vendors
salons or beauty supply stores
boutiques
flea markets
novelty stores
Halloween stores
record or video stores
convenience stores
beach shops
Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)
These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law...
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm275069.htm