Prompted by the American Optometry Association and the US Senate, the FDA is now classifying contact lenses as medical devices. That’s right: the number of citizens sporting medical devices just rose a hundredfold, overnight.
We guess that’s good news for Medgadget (our new motto: “You’re probably wearing Medgadgets right now”).
Of course, the AOA is thrilled with the Senate’s decision, because, you know, it’s good for the children:
“By classifying contacts as medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate all contacts will prevent countless, senseless injuries every year,” said Senator Mike DeWine, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “This regulation is important to keep our kids safe, and ensure that only people that are instructed in the proper use of contacts are able to use them.”
..The improper use of decorative contact lenses, which are marketed and distributed directly to consumers through various sources, including the Internet, 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.
We suspect the optometrists are also excited by the prospect of controlling the growing cosmetic contacts industry.
Next up: the wristwatch as a cyborg implant.
More from the text of S.172…