Circle Contact Lenses Popular but Pose Risk to Eyes

Lady Gaga can be seen with them in her video for "Bad Romance" - you know, those big doe-eyes much like the wide-eyed look anime characters sport. For all you teens and adults who may think this look is cool, consider that Lady Gaga's look has been computer generated, not to mention that the circle contact lenses used to get the look can have devastating effects on your eye health.

Circle lenses come in a variety of colors. These lenses cover a portion of the whites of the eye and therefore make the pupil look larger. Young girls collect different colored lenses much like you would buy the same shirt in different colors.

Demand for the special circle contact lenses are on the rise even though they are considered contraband, illegal to sell in the U.S., and are not FDA-Approved.

Teenagers have turned to the Internet where the lenses can be bought for $20 to $30. Despite being illegal, sellers of the lenses have no problem shipping them here for teens bent on being in on a fad that could have devastating consequences.

EmaxHealth says circle lenses have gone mainstream in Singapore, S. Korea, and Japan. In the last year, they began turning up in the U.S.

Marketwire has released a statement from the American Academy of Opthamology in which they say, "Although over-the-counter sales of nonprescription "plano" cosmetic lenses have been illegal in the United States since 2005, they are still widely available without prescription in retail stores and on the Internet. In 2005, an Academy-backed federal law classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals."

Dangers of Circle Contact Lenses:
Circle lenses carry great risks. Infections can occur after prolonged wear and can lead to blindness. Ill-fitting lenses can scratch the cornea or deprive the eyes of oxygen.

Businesses selling the lenses do not verify proof of prescription and unlike manufacturers of regular contact lenses, they do not undergo quality or safety checks, putting the end user at greater risk because there are no guarantees they are safe. It can be compared to playing Russian Roulette with your eyes, a gamble too many are willing to take not understanding or caring about the consequences.

According to the NY Times, FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley said those who buy the lenses, "risk significant eye injuries, even blindness, when they buy contact lenses without a valid prescription or help from an eye professional."

What may be popular today could lead to the loss of your vision tomorrow. As with all fads or trends, this too will end someday.

Source:
Lady Gaga's Circle Contact Lenses Are Growing Health Concern - EmaxHealth
What Big Eyes You Have, Dear, but Are Those Contacts Risky? - NYTimes.com
Statement From the American Academy of Ophthalmology Regarding the Circle Lenses - Marketwire