MEDICATIONS: AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY APPLAUDS FDA'S DECISION TO ACT AGAINST ILLEGAL DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES

Orlando - The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Eye M.D. Association, applauded the FDA's announcement that it will aggressively enforce federal law prohibiting the sale of decorative contact lenses obtained without a prescription or professional fitting. The FDA also warned consumers to avoid using these lenses.

The Academy issued a consumer warning in July on the serious risks of blindness and other eye injuries in response to growing reports from ophthalmologists about patients' problems with the lenses. Since then, the Academy has urged regulatory action by gathering case studies for the FDA which demonstrate the harm to patients. The patients using these nonprescription colored lenses have been primarily teenagers. Improperly manufactured or poorly-fitted contact lenses can cause serious eye problems, from corneal abrasions to infections and complete loss of vision.

"We think the FDA's aggressive enforcement of federal law will have a significant impact on stemming the recent public health crisis presented by the sales of illegal costume contact lenses," said Catherine Cohen, Academy vice president for governmental affairs.

"To completely eliminate this problem, the public must also be vigilant, especially parents of teenagers," Ms. Cohen said. "They need to warn their children of the risks associated with wearing these lenses. If their children are wearing lenses that have been purchased illegally, make them stop wearing the lenses. They should see an ophthalmologist immediately if they experience any eye problems. Finally, the public needs to report the sales of these contact lenses to the FDA so these laws can be enforced."

The Academy urges those who are interested in wearing decorative contact lenses to visit their eye care professional to get an eye examination, proper fitting and instructions for care.