October is Contact Lens Safety Month

Eye health nonprofit Prevent Blindness has declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month. In a recent announcement, the organization shared that the purpose of the awareness initiative is to educate the public on the proper use of contact lenses, both prescription and cosmetic, and is offering fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and dedicated web pages to further education and awareness. Prevent Blindness also offers the video “Contact Lens Safety” as part of its Focus on Eye Health Expert Series.

In the video, Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness president and CEO, discusses patient advocacy and the potential dangers of misusing contact lenses with Dr. Thomas L. Steinemann, professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University.

Approximately 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and when used correctly, contact lenses can be a safe and effective way to provide clearer vision for users. However, many people may not be aware that contact lenses are classified as prescription medical devices. The FDA states that contact lenses are not over-the-counter devices and that companies that sell them as such are misbranding the device and violating Federal Trade Commission regulations by selling contact lenses without a prescription.