Eye Care Eye Care Treatment

Eyeing up Safety in Contact Lenses

By Daniel Halperin

More than 30 million Americans comfortably wear contact lenses, carefully fitted and prescribed by an eyecare professional. But the increased nonprescription use of cosmetic lenses, from tinted colors to striking designs, is causing some concern among healthcare professionals. Cosmetic contact lenses are of particular interest to teens and adults, especially at Halloween time. Reports are surfacing that nonprescription lenses are causing all sorts of eye problems that include corneal damage, scarring, infection, vision loss and, in some rare cases, permanent blindness.

Any contact lens, prescription or nonprescription, has the potential to cause allergic reactions, bacterial infections, corneal abrasions and corneal ulcers, particularly when they are improperly fitted and cared for. But the problem is worsened when people purchase these products without the guidance of an eye specialist.

Dr. Cavanagh advises, "Letting an underage member of the family use these lenses without supervision is like giving them the car keys without a license and without an adult in the front seat."