Unprescribed Contact Lenses Can Make You Go Blind
It is not a strange site to see, in fact it has become normal to see teens and young adults sporting around “wild eyes,” also known as decorative contact lenses. These contact lenses come in many styles from cat eyes, sports team logos, and aliens to what appears to be a spider in the middle of the eye. They are somewhat unsettling to see at first glance, but they sell like hot cakes despite the warnings from the FDA that they can and have caused blindness in several patients who were hospitalized from wearing these unregulated contact lenses, and there is a stream of other eye problems that go hand in hand with them. Sales for these unregulated novelty contact lenses have declined since the Lens Association of Ophthalmologists became aware of the growing problem of various eye ailments between teens and young adults since they first hit the market. They are no longer as accessible as they once were, in fact they are illegal without a prescription, but they can still be purchased at places that have very little monitoring like beach shops, novelty stores, tobacco stores, video stores, convenience stores, and flea markets, and they are a dangerous novelty for the eyes.
Unprescribed Colored Contact Lenses
Another fad is un-prescribed colored contact lenses, and the makers of these dangerous eye novelties have made changing your eye color as easy as changing the color of your clothes, hair, lipstick or nail polish, with their introduction onto markets. Any merchant that is above board will not stock these, so buying them is not easy unless you have a prescription or you purchase them from illegal merchants. You are taking a big risk when you buy “wild eyes” or color contact lenses from any establishment other then an eye doctor. The biggest problem with colored lenses, in particular, is that many people will purchase them for fun or as a fashion statement simply because they are cheap and convenient, not realizing the potential dangers.
You Can Go Blind From Wild Eyes & Colored Contact Lenses
An eye examination to see if you have any eye condition that might preclude the use of colored lenses and to update your prescription to match the current condition of your eyes should be the first step before using colored contact lenses. The FDA issued a warning to consumers about the risk of permanent eye injury, and even blindness, associated with decorative contact lenses distributed without a prescription and without proper fitting by an eye-care professional. The FDA has received reports of eye problems, such as damage to the cornea and eye infections, associated with decorative contact lenses. The majority of reports involve teenagers due to the popularity of changing eye color and keeping up with the latest trends.
Signs That Your Eyes May Be In Danger
Some warning signs that your eyes may be in trouble from wearing illegal contact lenses are burning, redness, and sensitivity to light in both eyes. Medical attention should be sought after immediately if this occurs. There is the possibility of an eye infection referred to as a Pseudomonas bacterium. You cannot only lose vision from this infection, but you can lose the eye all together. The main problem with the lenses is a poor fit. Contact lenses that are too tight can damage the cornea. Along with informing consumers about potential dangers with decorative contact lenses, the FDA is seizing decorative contact lenses on the market that violate federal law. The agency has also issued an important alert instructing the FDA and Customs officials to detain decorative contact lenses presented at U.S. ports of entry unless they have been cleared for marketing by the FDA. Consumers and health professionals can report adverse events related to contact lenses to Med Watch or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at http://www.fda.gov/cder/aers/default.htm Or http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fsgprobs.html
Get A Prescription For Contact Lenses
Legitimate colored lenses are available by prescription at most eye care clinics in a variety of different styles and configurations. There are basically four different kinds of “Colored Contact Lenses on the market :
+ Visibility Tint – Usually a light blue or green tint, a visibility tint does not alter the color of the eyes but, rather, it helps you to see it better during insertion and removal – or if you drop it.
+ Enhancement Tint – Darker than a visibility tint, but translucent, an enhancement tint is intended to enhance the existing color of your eyes.
+ Color Tint’s – A true color tint is deeper and opaque in nature designed to change the color of your eyes.
+ Light-Filtering Tint – Designed primarily for use in sports or recreation to enhance certain colors.
