A Taichung-based doctor warned against buying contact lenses online after a Taichung woman scratched her corneas removing such contacts.
On Thursday last week, a 22-year-old woman surnamed Wang (王) reported experiencing severe pain after removing contacts she had bought online, Asia University Hospital Eye Center deputy director Lin Chun-ju (林純如) said.
Wang had worn them for only six hours, Lin said, adding that she had vomited as a result of the pain at the ophthalmologist’s clinic.
Wang went to a hospital, where doctors found abrasions on her corneas, which healed after about a month of treatment with eye drops, antibiotics and ointments, as well as anti-nausea medication and painkillers, Lin said.
Although lenses can often be found online at a 20 to 30 percent discount, such lenses might not have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and are not legal or safe to use, Lin said.
To prevent eye damage, contacts must use a preservation solution of a neutral concentration, or it could cause the lenses to drain moisture from the cornea, she said.
When corneal tissue is dehydrated or injured, it becomes vulnerable to bacterial infection, she said.
In Wang’s case, an improper solution concentration is likely to blame, as she had injuries despite wearing the contacts for a normal amount of time, Lin said.
Poor-fitting contact lenses might also abrade the eye due to excessive movement, even if the lenses appear to be the correct prescription, she said, adding that abrasion injuries could lead to corneal ulcers, which could cause vision loss or blindness.
“By law, contact lenses are medical devices the online sale of which are not permitted,” Lin said. “To protect their eyes, people should see an ophthalmologist and an optometrist before buying contact lenses, and should buy only from licensed dealers.”
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