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Dr Issah Imoro, Optometrist & Lecturer UDS Medical School
An optometrist and lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Medical School, Dr. Issah Imoro, has cautioned the public against using coloured contact lenses without the prescription of a qualified eye professional.
The warning, according to him, has been necessitated by the proliferation of these contact lenses that are sold in the market and beauty shops, and are being patronised by the public.
Dr. Imoro said apart from the fact that most sellers of those lenses are unauthorized, they also have no requisite training to do so.
He added that the buyers also do not go in for the correct prescription, saying one has to go through eye examination and screening to detect a refractive error on the eye before the right prescription is made.
Cosmetic/coloured lenses
Dr. Imoro pointed out that coloured contact lenses are specially designed to mimic the coloured part of the eye, called the iris.
“Contact lenses are placed over the clear protective layer of the eye, known as the cornea, and this makes them medical devices that require the prescription of a qualified professional contrary to over-the-counter merchandise,” he said.
He stated that an eye professional may prescribe coloured contact lenses for different reasons, one of which is aesthetic when there is a visible scar on the cornea affecting the appearance of an individual.
However, he noted, in recent times, coloured contact lenses have become fashion, especially, used by women to change their looks to match their clothing.
“In the United States and societies that observe Halloween, the use of unprescribed coloured contact lenses is always an issue of serious concern since there are always increased reports of eye damage due to unprescribed usage for the festivities,” he disclosed.
Recommendations
Dr. Imoro emphasised that there is the need for intense public education on the use of unprescribed coloured contact lenses, noting that some of its complications like corneal scarring can lead to permanent damage to eyes resulting in blindness.
He further called on the health regulatory authorities to be strict in sanctioning merchandise that endanger the visual health of citizens by dealing in these unlicensed products.
He urged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of going for regular eye checks for defects to be detected, adding that eye screening is not as expensive and time consuming as people think.
“Cheap medicated glasses from the streets have serious side effects. Ghanaians should observe healthy diets, take in more vegetables and reduce the excessive intake of fatty food, which are prelude to hypertension, a condition could have effects on the eye,” he advised.