Friday, November 11, 2005

Non-corrective Contact Lenses to Require Prescription

Filed under: Society , in the news...

The Americal Optometric Association (AOA) has achieved success in their tyrannical quest to restrict the decorative contact lens world. Who says your average convenience store or guy-standing-around-outside-the-rave isn't qualified to sell contact lenses? In all seriousness, S.172, passed into law by the US House of Representatives grants authority to the Food and Drug Admnistration to regulate all forms of contact lenses. According to the AOA press release running on i-newswire.com:

Previously, decorative contact lenses were unregulated and considered a cosmetic, thus consumers could purchase lenses on the Internet, at retail and convenience stores, flea markets and even gas stations.

Rep. John Boozman ( R-Ark. ) led the bi-partisan effort to pass S.172 in the U.S. House on Oct. 26 and close a 2 1/2-year-old loophole that, in spite of warnings by the nation's eye care providers and federal health officials, has allowed decorative contact lenses to be considered an unregulated cosmetic rather than a regulated medical device. With mounting evidence of grievous harm resulting from the unsupervised use of decorative lenses provided to Congress by the American Optometric Association ( AOA ) and other organizations, the U.S. Senate acted first and approved S.172 in July with strong support from Senators Michael Enzi ( R-Wyo. ), Mike DeWine ( R-Ohio ) and Edward Kennedy ( D-Mass. ).

Decorative contact lenses -- often with striking colors or an unusual design -- have become increasingly popular and are worn mostly, but not exclusively, by high school and college students. The improper use of decorative contact lenses can cause permanent eye injury or potentially lead to blindness. Since 2003 the FDA has issued warnings to consumers and has acknowledged receiving reports of corneal ulcers associated with wearing decorative lenses as well as other conditions leading to infections and permanent loss of vision. Other risks associated with the use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis ( an infection of the eye ), corneal edema (swelling), allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit.

You'd think any of the heinous side effects would really only add to the freaked-out look these kids were going for. Imagine, one eye with a cyborg crosshair and the other swollen and oozing puss...sweet.

Flashback: Millions are now wearing medgadgets

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