Rep. Boozman Applauds House Passage of Senate Bill to Ensure Safe Usage of Colored Contact Lenses

Rep. Boozman Applauds House Passage of Senate Bill to Ensure Safe Usage of Colored Contact Lenses
Senate bill identical to House bill introduced by Boozman

Washington, Oct 26 - U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today hailed House passage of a Senate bill that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate non-corrective colored contact lenses as medical devices, calling it "a simple fix to a very dangerous problem."

The bill, S. 172, is identical to H.R. 371 which Boozman reintroduced earlier this year after getting it passed by the House of Representatives during the 108th Congress. Boozman, a practicing optometrist before he was elected to represent the Third District of Arkansas, spoke on the House Floor during consideration of S. 172, which was passed unanimously by the House.

"With Halloween upon us, it is important that we bring attention to the fact that colored contact lenses are being sold without any instruction on how to safely use them. Sales of these lenses tend to spike before Halloween as people buy them as part of their costumes. However, in many cases, they are not told how to care for them. This can result in serious eye injuries and can and should be prevented," said Boozman.

S. 172, sponsored by Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), closes a loophole that allows noncorrective colored contact lenses to be sold at locales ranging from flea markets to video stores by merchants who are not licensed to give consumers the proper instructions on how to care for and use the devices. Instructions on proper care for contact lenses include how to clean and disinfect them, how to put them in and never to share them. Improper usage of contact lenses can result in eye infections or even cause blindness.

"As an optometrist, I certainly understand the damage that is done when people do not follow directions on how to properly care for their contacts," said Boozman. "A simple eye infection is the least of the problems unsupervised contact lens use can cause. At worst, improper usage can result in permanent loss of vision."

Boozman added, "People who buy cosmetic colored contact lenses, especially young adults, often share them which is a common cause of infections. When they purchase the lenses at flea markets or gas stations, they are never told not to share them or even that they need to clean them. This dangerous practice needs to be stopped."

In 2003, the FDA changed the classification of noncorrective color contact lenses from medical devices to cosmetic devices, which literally meant they were regulated the same as lipstick. S. 172 requires the FDA to regulate these lenses the same way as corrective contact lenses by classifying them as medical devices.

Boozman will be joining Sen. DeWine and organizations that supported that supported their efforts include major professional, patient advocacy and industry groups at a press event on Halloween. These include the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Prevent Blindness America, the Contact Lens Institute and industry groups representing the lens manufacturers.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=36165