- Warby Parker slapped with $1.5 million penalty for HIPAA breach
- How AOA advocacy keeps contact lens wearers fright free
- Contacts Lens Prescription Modernization Act introduced as next step in ending damaging robocalls
- Health system optometrists strike for recognition, fair labor practices
- How AOA is keeping contact lens wearers safe this spooky season
- Constant presence: Alliance builds reputation for patient safety advocacy
- Hubble Contacts concerns grow after woman loses eye, AOA asks where’s enforcement?
- AOA Today Show Response
- AOA recommends care standard for telemedicine use amid rapid change
- AOA issues consumer health alert for online vision tests
- Vision Direct website removes FCLCA claims after AOA and BBB challenge
- Goal should be mandatory protective eyewear in high school field hockey
- Mere commoditization
- AOA pushes Amazon to sufficiently address inappropriate contact lens sales
- Vision Direct UK to halt sales without required prescriptions after AOA complaints
- Alcon joins Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety
- Patients need guidance on risks of online vision apps
- AOA demands 1-800 Contacts change misleading message
- Telemedicine-Policy
- Breaking through the pandemic
- VA rescinds laser policy
- AOA rallies optometry and allies to fight FTC contact lens rule
- Company recalls colored contact lenses it was selling online without FDA clearance
- FTC Contact Lens Rule changes
- ftc flags vision apps misleading claims
- atlantic author retracts tweet
- Homeland Security agents bust counterfeit contact lens dealers
- 1800 online eye test
- FDA enforcement action disrupts vision test company
- AOA AFOS continue fight against VA experimental eye exam replacement program
- Amazon drops noncompliant contact lens sellers
- Can you hear me now?
- AOA rejects demand from Stanton Optical to retract article
- AOA urges Federal Trade Commission to investigate Visibly ExpressExam
- FTC finds 1-800 Contacts engaged in anticompetitive agreements
- Opternatives doctor locator draws questions
- FDA warning to Opternative
- Illegal contact lens retailers slapped with fines penalties
- FDA Warning to Opternative March 18
- Holding accountable errant eye care retailers
- Hubble update
- AOA continues the fight for patient safety
- Veterans Round Table
- Balancing patient health safety with technological progress
- AOAs eye health first stance lays bare convenience messaging
- AOA contributes to CDC vision initiative
- States and AOA persevere in fight against heightened opposition from Opternative 1800Contacts
- AOA scrutiny aims to hold device profiteers accountable for false claims
- AOA promotes patient safety protections
- AOA Congress urge VA to uphold promise
- Legislation targets prescription verification deceptive internet sales tactics
- GMA Investigates raises red flag on Opternative
- Preventable vision loss unacceptable
- AOA commends FTC action against 1-800 Contacts
- AOA files expansive FDA complaint against Opternative
- Opternative issued cease and desist order
- AOA officers and CDC officials make plans for more collaboration
- Alliance for Patient Safety
- VA Visit
- AOA leaves impression on White House Conference on Aging
- FTC Upheld
- USPSTF Release
- AOA complaint focuses FDA sights on Opternative
- AOA to Census Bureau Doctor the optimal word
- Help veterans access timely quality care
- AOA Patient safety paramount in contact lens legislation
- AOA authorities target illegal contact sellers
- Legislators petition FTC on retailers unscrupulous tactics
- AOA Opternatives doc locator appears to falsely imply endorsement
- Online vision test receives failing grade from doctor of optometry
- AOA complaints lead to changes in 1 800 Contacts business practice
- AOA warns public about online eye exams
- AOA affiliates continue to challenge online eye exams
- For parents, pediatric benefit brings clarity and consistency
- Be on the lookout Illegal contact lenses
- AOA fights for patient safety in contact lens legislation
- Choice Act offers new opportunities to care for veterans
- AOA backs legislative effort to expand veterans access to eye care
- AOA president to IOM Comprehensive eye exams essential to prevention and public health
- AOA in national roundtable on the future of diabetes care
- AOA Efforts on Contact Lens Bills Guided By Patient Health Concerns
Going batty for contact lens wearers
October 6, 2022
Once again, in October, AOA’s ’31 in 31’ campaign is scrutinizing retailers in the contact lens market who wing it when it comes to patient protections.
Tag(s): Advocacy, Patient Protection
- A doctor of optometry reports to the AOA that a New Mexico flea market is selling costume contact lenses without prescriptions. “They are ignoring state and federal laws and need to be held accountable,” the doctor says.
- An emergency patient arrives at a Colorado clinic on a Saturday due to a corneal abrasion. The patient had slept in colored contact lenses she obtained from a flea market.
- A patient comes to a doctor of optometry’s practice in Maryland wearing lenses from a company that did not require a valid prescription. The doctor reports the retailer to the AOA.
It’s October and the AOA’s ’31 in 31” annual advocacy campaign is reaching out to online retailers, brick-and-mortar shops and other sellers who distribute contact lenses without valid prescriptions, in violation of federal law.
The campaign has identified more than 150 retailers—with support over the years from doctors of optometry nationwide—that the AOA has directly contacted to inform them of the law regarding the sale of contact lenses.
While the AOA is not a regulatory enforcement entity, it has a central mission to serve as a resource to the public for reliable and current information related to eye care and health care policy.
“We would like to inform you of the regulatory and legal requirements that relate to the sale of contact lenses in the United States,” the letter from the AOA reads. “All contact lenses, even those that are only intended to change the appearance of the eye, require a prescription. The AOA would like for your company to be aware that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates contacts as medical devices. The improper wear and care of contact lenses can cause eye infections that can lead to serious, long-term damage, including vision loss. As such, we believe it is dangerous to consumers to sell such devices to individuals within the United States without appropriate prescriber supervision.”
Based on member reports, the AOA identifies retailers to reach out to, says Paul Velting, O.D., chair of the AOA Contact Lens & Cornea Section (CLCS).
“Without reports from doctors of optometry, we don't know which companies are the most frequent offenders,” Dr. Velting adds. “Reports from actual patient experiences are extremely important.”
Copies of those letters are also sent to federal agencies, such as the FDA.
Making a difference
Reports by doctors can make a significant difference.
“The main concern with unprescribed contact lenses is eye health,” Dr. Velting says. “While most of the decorative contact lens retailers tout their lenses as ‘FDA approved,’ patients sometimes assume this means they're automatically safe. Insulin is FDA approved, but we certainly wouldn't want our diabetic patients buying it online and using it without management from their physician.
“We hope to influence even one of these companies to discontinue the illegal practice of selling contact lenses without a prescription,” he says. “The perception is that contact lenses are one-size-fits-all commodities, and we need to ensure they are recognized for what they are—medical devices.”
How to report suspicious sales and resources for practices
Although the AOA is not a regulatory enforcement agency, one of its key missions is to serve as a resource to the public for reliable and current information related to safe management of contact lenses. Here's how doctors of optometry can help:
- Report a website illegally selling contact lenses.
- Report an adverse event related to contact lenses.
- Report problems with decorative contact lenses.
- Report suspected violations to the AOA or direct questions to StopIllegalCLS@aoa.org.
For more information on illegal retailer or incident reporting, contact Kara Webb at kcwebb@aoa.org.
The AOA provides patient- and public-oriented resources on decorative contact lenses (videos and a stock image) and information on the risk of buying decorative lenses online during Halloween.