Parents Must be Diligent in Monitoring Contact Lens Use by Children
|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – COLUMBUS – A new report published in Pediatrics, the journal for the American Academy of Pediatrics, estimates that in a two year period, emergency rooms across the country treated more than 33,000 injuries due to contact lenses. The study, “Emergency Department Visits for Medical Device-Associated Adverse Events Among Children,” showed the most frequently injured body part due to medical device complications was the eye.
According to the data, the most-frequently reported injury diagnoses due to contact lenses were corneal contusions/abrasions, conjunctivitis and hemorrhage. The study also showed that most contact lens complications included noncompliance with recommended wear and care regimens, as well as replacement schedules.
Problems such as eye pain, bacterial infections, and corneal ulcers, and even permanent vision loss or blindness have been attributed to misuse of contact lenses in both adults and children.
“Contact lenses can be a great alternative to eyeglasses for some, but we must remember that children need extra supervision and guidance when it comes to using them properly,” said Sherry Williams, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “Some children may not take the time to clean their lenses or worse, share them with others. We must educate our children on the importance of taking care of our eyes today to avoid painful vision problems in the future.”
“Eye pain, bacterial infections, and corneal ulcers are caused by ill-fitting lenses. If left untreated, these conditions can result in permanent eye damage and loss of sight,” said Thomas L. Steinemann, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University and a Prevent Blindness Ohio Volunteer. “Parents should be on the alert to protect their children’s vision by assuring that their contact lenses are worn only under the supervision of an eye doctor. “
Vision loss due to incorrect use or fit of contacts is an everyday concern for Dr. Steinemann. He has authored multiple case reports on patients treated for complications related to contact lenses and is an advocate for proper use and dispensing of contact lenses. Two of his teenage patients developed blinding complications, requiring lengthy hospital stays. One 14-year-old patient needed a corneal transplant after wearing cosmetic lenses without the supervision of an eye care professional; the other patient remains legally blind. Dr. Steinemann has documented another 11 cases, and three of those patients developed blinding complications requiring hospitalization.
Many people may be surprised to learn that contact lenses are categorized by the Food and Drug Administration as medical devices. This classification is due to the efforts of Prevent Blindness America joining with other leading vision health groups including American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association, the Opticians Association of America, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists and the Contact Lens Institute, to help push legislation that categorized all contact lenses as medical devices. Because of these joint efforts, it is illegal to purchase any type of contact lenses without a prescription from a licensed eye care professional.
Prevent Blindness Ohio offers the following safety tips regarding contact lenses usage:
· Always visit a licensed eye care professional to be fitted for cosmetic contact lenses.
· Never buy contact lenses without a prescription.
· Always clean and disinfect contact lenses according to instructions.
· Never wear opaque lenses if you have any problems with night vision.
· Never share or trade your contact lenses with others.
Prevent Blindness Ohio offers tips and information to the public on the correct use of contact lenses and other eye health and safety topics through its toll-free number at (800) 301-2020 and via its website at www.pbohio.org.
About Prevent Blindness Ohio
Prevent Blindness Ohio, founded in 1957, is Ohio’s leading volunteer nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight. We serve all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 800,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. Prevent Blindness Ohio is an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, the country’s second-oldest national voluntary health organization. For more information or to make a contribution, visit our website at www.pbohio.org or call 800-301-2020.
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and receive current Health News, be eligible for discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com
For advertising/promotion, email: [email protected] Or call toll free: 877- 634-9180