31.01.11
Coloured lenses sold without supervision could be damaging eyesight
Contact lenses are being sold as fashion accessories without adequate supervision, it has been alleged.
Cosmetic and coloured lenses should only be sold under the supervision of an optometrist, optician or doctor – but many people are buying them regardless.
The manufacturers say they are designed as fashion wear rather than contact lenses, so are exempt from The Opticians Act.
The widescale availability of the coloured lenses was highlighted in an investigation by BBC Wales, which spoke to Dr Christine Purslow from Cardiff University School of Optometry.
She said: “We thought that the legislation had dealt with this issue and closed a loophole that all eye care professionals recognised was there. I really didn't think this was happening.”
The General Optical Council told the programme that the lenses fell under the existing regulations, regardless of what the manufacturers said.
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