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Complaints on the rise from consumers sustaining minor cornea injuries from colored contact lenses

11 Comments

The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan this week issued a public warning following an increase in the number of reports regarding small cornea injuries sustained by users of colored contact lenses.

The lenses have recently become especially popular among young Japanese women.

According to results from a study of 17 different mail order and over the counter color contact brands conducted by the center, six of the companies had not been approved for business license and practices by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, TBS reported Friday.

Furthermore, from 2008 to 2013, of the 541 complaints received by the center from wearers of colored contact lenses, 80% of them were customers who experienced problems after buying their contacts online.

The center has asked that citizens consult a trained ophthalmologist for proper instructions when considering purchasing colored contacts.

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11 Comments
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Article does not explain the basic question of why colored lenses are more likely to cause damage. Are they less flexible, or what?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Are they less flexible, or what?

I guess that's those that are "painted". They are not so smooth. It's usually OK if you wear them on occasions, for a few hours and most people do that. But if it's everyday all day, that rubs too longly on the eye and there is no time to recover, so after a while that does micro-scratches on the cornea....

The center has asked that citizens consult a trained ophthalmologist for proper instructions when considering purchasing colored contacts.

Sure. I was prescribed contacts (for astygmatia) with a point drawn of them and I was feeling it. The ophthalmologist said "no, no, that's OK". Then after a few months he agreed my cornea had become sensitive. Previously I had worn plain contacts during 15 yrs without any problem, and since then I can no longer , The doc had more than insisted (refused a prescription otherwise) to make me take the colored model, but he did not apologize.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Wearing contacts for no medical purpose? No sympathy from me.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I agree with Mick, and I always say something to my wife when she uses hers. Why would anybody want to jam some plastic into their eyes?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

God forbid these people should look Japanese. I'm willing to bet these people all dye their hair too.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It's kind of funny, every time I put in my corrective contact lenses so I can actually SEE, I wish I didn't have to. It's a pain.

All these people who wear contact lenses just for the fashion, I just can't understand. And since they buy them online, they're not properly fitted, nor recommended by a specialist who knows what they're doing.

I have a feeling most the people wear them too long or just don't know how to properly care for their eyes, hence the damage.

You get what you pay for with these things.... and for what, so your eyes look unique to all the kids at school?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It takes time to adjust to lenses, those not allowing a time period of acclimatization risk injury - any lense will damage the ear without this.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"It's kind of funny, every time I put in my corrective contact lenses so I can actually SEE, I wish I didn't have to. It's a pain."

CruisinJapan, that's very true! I too, always wish someday my vision could miraculously get better by itself. and I have a really strange eyes that tolerated color-contact more than the plain one. My eyes turns red everytime I wear those plain contacts (took a week to recover). I have been trying 4-5 different brands and all just doesn't seems to work.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

those not allowing a time period of acclimatization risk injury - any lense will damage the ear without this.....

Well if you put them in the ear, of course ! Great typo.

It takes time to adjust to lenses,

For non-corrective contact lenses, you get used to them in 1 or 2 minutes from day one, otherwise bring them back to the shop, that model is not for your eye shape or something. The "acclimatization" is for a new correction because switching too quickly may give headaches. Also for glasses/spectacles as the shape forces your eyes to stick to a certain angle, and that may tire the muscles.

Wearing contacts for no medical purpose? No sympathy from me.

Wearing a necktie for no medical purpose ? Whether a product is useful or futile, the maker always has the obligation to make sure it is safe for expected use.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

it's a free country, let people pluck their eyes if they want!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Never will understand the allure of colored lenses.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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