FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2007

No Tricks, No Treats: MOA Warns Halloween Consumers that Even Cosmetic Contact Lenses Require Prescriptions

Consumers urged not to buy decorative contact lenses without a prescription

(Baltimore-MD) The Maryland Optometric Association (MOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription. These non-corrective lenses are easily accessible to consumers and are especially popular around Halloween.

Decorative lenses are marketed and distributed directly to consumers through a variety of sources including flea markets, the Internet, beauty salons and convenience stores. Consumers often find them at retail outlets where they are sold as fashion accessories.

"Buying contact lenses without a prescription involves serious health care risks because sellers may not be contact lens specialists," said Lisa McGinn, O.D., president of the MOA. "After purchasing the decorative lenses, consumers often receive no formal education and instruction, which puts the responsibility to learn proper cleaning and disinfecting, as well as removal and application, on the consumer."

People who buy and wear contact lenses without medical guidance and a valid prescription put themselves at risk for ocular inflammation, bacterial infection or mechanical damage to the eye, with the potential of irreversible loss of sight. A proper medical evaluation can determine whether or not patients are viable candidates to wear contact lenses and if they are capable of wearing contact lenses without problems.

"While consumer education is important, it is equally imperative to ensure that only people who are instructed in the proper use of contacts are able to sell them," said Dr. McGinn.

Federal law requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate decorative lenses as a medical device, similar to corrective lenses, making it illegal to dispense the lenses without a prescription.

"Consumers and retailers should understand that decorative lenses, like the contact lenses intended for correcting vision, present serious risks to eye health if they are distributed without the appropriate involvement of a qualified eye care professional," added Dr. McGinn.

Other risks associated with use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. Other problems may include reduction in visual acuity (sight), contrast sensitivity and other general eye and vision impairments.

The MOA is a non-profit professional association dedicated to providing its members with the resources necessary to deliver the highest standard of professional eye care to the citizens of Maryland. It is the leader in providing continuing education for doctors of optometry and the "Voice of Optometry" before the Maryland General Assembly and the Board of Optometric Examiners.

720 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 TEL: (410) 727-7800• FAX: (410) 752-8295 EMAIL: MOA@assnhqtrs.com