Run to contact lens problems from on line sources report it to the AOA and FTC.
How to do it? See AOA's First Look 1/29/16...
Patient harmed by improper contact lens use? Report now
Contact lenses, whether corrective or plano, are classified as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and require a valid prescription under federal law to purchase.
Improperly used contact lenses can lead to corneal abrasions, corneal edema, corneal ulcers or eye infections, necessitating medical or surgical treatment, ultimately increasing costs and undermining quality of life. That’s where doctors make an immediate difference, particularly when the contact lenses were obtained illegally—without a prescription or without abiding by the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA).
By formally reporting “adverse events” to the FDA, doctors offer critical data that not only spurs federal officials to take action, but also provides AOA key data with which to advocate for members and patients.
The FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program is that initial step to take when reporting adverse events. Information may be reported to MedWatch by phone at 800.FDA.1088; by fax at 800.FDA.0178; by mail to 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland, 20852-9787; or online with these steps:
What if doctors aren’t reporting an adverse event, but still have information about a suspected illegal sale of corrective or novelty plano contact lenses? The AOA asks doctors to provide reports of illegal sales to the AOA Washington office, then submit to the FTC.
Click here for additional links where doctors can alert federal authorities to suspected illegal sales of contact lenses, and click here to read more about the importance of reporting.
