Contacts need care FDA says

   Cosmetic contacts may be popular with teenagers, but without proper precautions, they can lead to eye problems, even blindness, experts say.
   Problems such as eye pain, bacterial infections and corneal ulcers are caused by improper use of lenses or solutions. Problems can arise when patients use lenses for longer periods than indicated or do not clean them adequately.
   The Food and Drug Administration considered cosmetic contacts a medical device by law until April 2003 when new legislation was passed classifying these contacts as cosmetics.
   This new law allows the public to buy these contacts without a prescription from an eye care professional. Cosmetic contacts are now sold in boutiques, beach shops and tattoo parlors.
  Prevent Blindness America, as well as other vision organizations, advocates the reclassification of cosmetic contacts as medical devices under the FDA.
  PBA advises anyone who uses contacts, whether to improve vision or for cosmetic reasons, to visit a licensed eye care professional to be fitted for contacts.
  In addition, PBA says users should never buy contacts without a prescription, always store contact lenses properly in a clean storage case and never share or trade contact lenses with friends.
  For more information on cosmetic contact lenses, visit the PBA’s Web site at www.preventblindness.org/advocacy.html.