Agencies Launch Halloween Crackdown on Illegal Imports of Decorative Contact Lenses
Federal agencies are working to seize illegally imported decorative contact lenses, as part of a general crackdown on counterfeit and unapproved decorative and colored lenses in the run-up to Halloween. The ongoing effort by the Food and Drug Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and CBP, called “Operation Double Vision,” attempts to mitigate dangers associated with the contact lenses, which are increasingly popular during this time of year.
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The government is warning consumers not to buy contact lenses from such places as Halloween or novelty shops, salons, beauty supply stores, or online if the site doesn't require a prescription, said ICE in a press release. Although many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses without valid prescriptions for as little as $20, these vendors are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, ICE said. It’s illegal to purchase or sell contact lenses of any kind without a prescription from an ophthalmologist, optometrist or a specially licensed optician under the supervision of an eye doctor.
"Contact lenses are a medical device and it is smart to purchase them from a medical professional who will fit them to your eye and provide you with instruction on the use and care of the lenses," said Dr. Glenda Brown, president of the Georgia Optometric Association, in the ICE press release. "Consumers who buy lenses that were manufactured and sold illegally can experience infections, corneal ulcers and even blindness,” she said. “A lifetime of good vision is so much more important than a cheap Halloween accessory."