STATEMENT from the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section: Pediatric Emergency Room Visits for Contact Lens Associated Adverse Events

Media Center Press Releases STATEMENT from the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section: Pediatric Emergency Room Visits for Contact Lens Associated Adverse Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Cathy Bryson
Public Relations Manager
O: 314-983-4226
mcbryson@aoa.org

STATEMENT from the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section: Pediatric Emergency Room Visits for Contact Lens Associated Adverse Events

The journal Pediatrics, in association with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), released the results of a 2-year study looking at emergency room visits for medical device-associated adverse events in children. Of all the visits, about 23 percent were associated with contact lens wear. These events included abrasions and ulcers of the cornea and conjunctivitis (i.e., "pink eye"). While these did not require hospitalization, many could have been prevented.

The most common risk factors for contact lens complications in this study were alteration of the prescribed wearing or replacement schedules and non-compliance with recommended contact lens wear and care regimens. It is well known that improper care, using solutions other than those prescribed, not replacing cases or lenses as prescribed, poor hygiene, buying lenses on the Internet without a valid prescription, and not seeing the eye doctor regularly, all lead to increased risk of complications.

When eye symptoms occur in patients who wear contact lenses, it is important for parents to promptly contact their child's eye doctor to ensure proper diagnosis and management of any potential contact lens-related complication.

Contact lens wear among children has benefits, including improved self -perception and unobstructed peripheral vision. By maintaining regular appointments with the eye doctor and reviewing lens replacement, lens care and hygiene at every visit, both children and adults can be happy, healthy, safe contact lens wearers.

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