Consumer Warning: Halloween Eye Wear Accessory May Permanently Damage Eyes

MOA Home

< MOA Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Rita Sitto
Franco Public Relations Group
O: (313) 567-6008
sitto@franco.com

Consumer Warning: Halloween Eye Wear Accessory May Permanently Damage Eyes

Consumers should not buy decorative contact lenses without a doctor’s prescription and fitting

(LANSING, Mich.) — Oct. 20, 2008 — Amber colored eyes may add a special touch to a cat Halloween costume, however, non-prescription contact lenses can be hazardous to eyes. With Halloween approaching, the Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an optometrist.

Federal law requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate decorative lenses as a medical device, similar to corrective lenses; however, decorative lenses continue to be illegally marketed and distributed directly to consumers through a variety of sources including flea markets, the Internet, beauty salons and convenience stores.

“Contact lenses are safe when they are fitted properly by an optometrist,” said Bruce Morgan, O.D., F.A.A.O, MOA member and chief of cornea and contact lens services at the Michigan College of Optometry. “Only a proper medical evaluation can determine whether or not patients are viable candidates to wear contact lenses, if they are capable of wearing lenses without problems and that the lenses fit properly.”

Purchasing contact lenses without a prescription can result in serious eye health and vision damage since consumers are not properly educated on cleaning and disinfecting, nor in proper removal and application of the contact lens. Without a prescription and wearing instructions from an optometrist, consumers who wear these contact lenses put themselves at risk of serious eye infection, or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss.

This warning comes at a time of heightened consumer interest in changing one’s eye color. New results from the American Optometric Association’s American Eye-Q® survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues related to eye and visual health, indicate that more than half of all Americans would consider changing the color of their eyes with colored lenses.

Other risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. Additional medical problems may result in a reduction of visual acuity (sight), contrast sensitivity and other general eye and vision impairments.
“Even though they carry no prescription and may be worn for short periods of time, decorative contact lenses carry the same risks as corrective contact lenses,” said Dr. Morgan. “Because of this, it’s important for consumers utilizing these lenses to familiarize themselves with the information available from an eye doctor to reduce the risk of infection.”

Tips for Decorative Contact Lens Wearers

1. See an optometrist for a proper fitting and prescription.

2. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.

3. Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your optometrist. Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.

4. Store lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case at a minimum of every three months. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.

5. Use only products recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.

6. Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, even if the lenses are not used daily.

7. Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule prescribed by your optometrist.

8. Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.

9. See your optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.

10. Do not, under any circumstances, share your contact lenses with another person.

11. Be aware that decorative contact lenses may reduce your night vision.

To find out more about your vision and eye health schedule an appointment with your optometrist. To locate a Michigan Optometric Association doctor, please visit www.themoa.org and click on the Find an Optometrist button at the top of the page.

[Editor’s note: Dr. Morgan is available for interviews.
Please contact Rita Sitto at (313) 567-5008.]

About the Michigan Optometric Association
The mission of the Michigan Optometric Association is to unite all licensed optometrists and be the representative voice for the profession of optometry in Michigan. The association provides education, information and other member services to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care; works to advance the quality and accessibility of optometric services throughout the state and seeks to ensure the recognition of optometrists as the primary providers of vision and related eye health care.

About the survey:
The third annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 17-19, 2008, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,001 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population. (Margin of error at 95 percent confidence level.

Media Center