Eyeglasses & Eye Care Community

Contact Lens Safety: Prescription Required

Just like their corrective counterparts, decorative contacts–sometimes called plano, zero-powered or non-corrective lenses–are regulated by FDA.

“What troubles us is when they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care,” says Saviola.

“This can lead to significant risks of eye injuries, including blindness.”

FDA is aware that consumers without valid prescriptions have bought decorative contact lenses from beauty salons, record stores, video stores, flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the Internet.

Recent legislation has made it illegal to market decorative contact lenses as over-the-counter products.

Unauthorized contact lenses of all types present risks to the eye that include corneal ulcers, corneal abrasion, vision impairment, and blindness.

If you want decorative contacts:

Get an eye exam from a licensed eye care professional, even if you feel your vision is perfect.

Get a valid prescription that includes the brand and lens dimensions.

Buy the lenses from an eye care professional or from a vendor who requires that  you provide prescription information for the lenses.

Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye care professional for follow-up eye exams.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Contact Lens Safety: Decorative Contact Lenses

Every year, the approach of Halloween heightens fears at FDA that consumers will harm their eyes with unapproved decorative contact lenses.?

These are lenses that some people use to temporarily change their eye color or to make their eyes look weird–perhaps giving them an “eye-of-the-tiger” look.

“Although unauthorized use of decorative contact lenses is a concern year-round, Halloween is the time when people may be inclined to use them, perhaps as costume accessories,” says Saviola.

The problem is not that people use decorative, non-corrective lenses. It’s that many go about it the wrong way, which is dangerous.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Contact Lens Safety: Getting a Prescription

When you get an eye exam, you have the right to get a copy of your prescription.

You can then use it at another vendor or to order contact lenses on the Internet, over the phone, or by mail.

As per FTC regulations, a prescription should contain sufficient information for a seller to completely and accurately fill the prescription: examination date, date you received the prescription after a contact lens fitting, expiration date, and the name, address, phone and fax number of the prescribing professional.

The prescription should also offer information about material and/or manufacturer, base curve or appropriate designation, and diameter (when appropriate) of the prescribed contact lens.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Contact Lens Safety: Tips for Buying

With a valid prescription, it is possible to purchase contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone or by mail. But be extremely cautious when buying contacts from someone other than your eye care professional.

Contact lenses are NOT over-the-counter devices. Companies that sell them as such are misbranding the device and violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription.

Avoiding problems:

Make sure your prescription is current. Don’t order with an expired prescription, and don’t stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire. If you haven’t had your eyes checked within the last year or two, you may have eye problems that you are not aware of, or your lenses may not correct your vision well.

Order from a supplier that you are familiar with and know is reliable.

Request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses. It will give you important risk/benefit information and instructions for use.

Beware of attempts to substitute a different brand than you presently have. There are differences in the water content and shape among the brands. The correct choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your eye care professional.

Make sure that you get the exact brand, lens name, power, sphere, cylinder (if any), axis (if any), diameter, base curve, and peripheral curves (if any) noted on the prescription.

If you think you’ve received an incorrect lens, check with your eye care professional. Don’t accept a substitution unless your eye care professional approves it.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Complete Tips of Wearing Contact Lenses

Here are some safety tips you should follow if you wear contact lenses.
Make sure to:

Get regular eye exams to assure the continued health of your eyes.

Always have a back-up pair of glasses with a current prescription in the event that you have problems with your contact lenses.

Always follow the directions of your eye care professional and all labeling instruction for proper use of contact lenses and lens care products.

Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses to reduce the chance of getting an infection.

Clean, rinse and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed. Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.

Remove the lenses immediately and consult your eye care professional if your eyes become red, irritated, or your vision changes.

Ask your eye care professional about wearing glasses or contact lenses during sports activities to minimize your chance of injury.

Always ask your eye care professional before using any medicine or using topical eye products, even those you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may affect your vision or irritate your eyes.

Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup.

Apply any aerosol products (hairspray, cologne, and deodorant) before inserting lenses.

Always inform your employer if you wear contact lenses. Some jobs may require the use of eye protection equipment or may require that you not wear lenses.

Follow and save the directions that come with your lenses. If you didn’t get a patient information booklet, request one from your eye care professional or look for one on the manufacturer’s website.

Replace contacts as recommended by your eye care professional. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period.

Do Not:

Sleep in daily wear lenses because it may increase your chance of infection or irritation.

Purchase contact lenses from gas stations, video stores, record shops, or any other vendor not authorized by law to dispense contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription. See Buying Contact Lenses to help you take simple precautions to make your purchase safe and effective.

Swap contact lens with another person. Swapping provides a way to transfer germs between people. Contact lenses are individually fitted. Incorrectly fitted lenses may cause permanent eye injury, infection and may potentially lead to blindness.

Smoke. Studies show that smokers who wear contact lenses have a higher rate of problems (adverse reactions) than nonsmokers.

Swim while wearing contact lenses. There is a risk of eye infection from bacteria in swimming pool water.
Put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.

Use tap water, distilled water or any homemade saline solution. Tap and distilled water have been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.

Transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can effect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection. Transferring solutions into smaller size containers may also leave consumers open to accidentally using a solution not intended for the eyes.

Rely on contact lenses to protect your eyes from the sun. Make sure to use sunglasses that block ultraviolet light. For more information, see “What to Look For in a Pair of Sunglasses” and “Sunglasses: It’s Just As Much About Function as Fashion.

Popularity: 14% [?]