The Consumer Council is issuing a warning on the widespread use of cosmetic contact lenses without professional advice.
With the festive season just around the corner, non-corrective colour contact lenses intended to change the appearance of the eyes (bigger and brighter), are catching on among the fashion conscious.
But the Council warned that the use of contact lenses, decorative or otherwise, should never be taken lightly as a piece of fashion accessory to add charm or match clothing. Or the consequences could be highly damaging to the eyes.
According to the experts, the oxygen permeability of cosmetic contact lenses are affected by factors such as the lens materials, colour concentration, thickness, and method of painting of the colouring materials.
Therefore, the time limit of wearing cosmetic lenses, especially those with opaque lenses, may be shorter than ordinary soft contact lenses. Consumers are advised to follow their optometrist's recommendation for wearing time.
Fitting is another factor to be taken into consideration. Cosmetic lenses usually fit one corneal curvature. Therefore, it is important to let eye-care professionals check the corneal curvature - too tight or loose the lenses can cause adverse reactions in the eyes.
There have been many cases of severe and permanent eye injury associated with cosmetic contact lenses both in Hong Kong and worldwide.
In the report was highlighted a local case of a young female who has worn for one year a pair of colour contact lenses which she purchased via the internet.
She was subsequently diagnosed to be suffering from hypoxia (decreased oxygen supply to the corneal) in a recent examination at the Optometry Clinic of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The report also cited similar cases in the US of mis-use causing eye infections to people aged between 16 and 39 years who bought their lenses from a diverse range of retail outlets including flea markets, hair salons, gas stations, and snacks stores. In some cases, the lenses were borrowed from friends or relatives.
All, with no exception, were without a valid prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional, and some even did not follow directions for cleaning and wearing the lenses.
The Council cautioned that responsible and appropriate use of contact lenses is critical to ensure safety.
Further, lenses must be properly cleaned and disinfected to minimize the chance of getting infections which may, in the worst case scenario, result in corneal ulcer.
Users are advised to cease wearing contact lenses when there is eye discomfort, e.g. redness, swelling, pain or blurred vision, and immediately seek advice from eye-care professionals.
It is also advisable to consult eye-care professionals regularly for checkup. A comprehensive eye care examination should include 3 components: visual acuity and refraction assessment, visual function assessment, and internal and external ocular health assessment.
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