Open letter to any of the UK public who may be considering obtaining coloured contact lenses without a prescription.

At this time of year, in the lead up to a rather silly celebration of Halloween, some of you seem to want to add to your costume and facial make up effects by changing the appearance of your eyes by obtaining, in the cheapest, quickest and easiest way, contact lenses that have the appearance of anything other than the beautiful eyes you were born with!

The effect of these lenses may or may not have an effect on those that see you wearing them, however it may not be the effect you wish, many people rightly view these with a mixture of wariness and puzzlement.

If the potential consequences of wearing them were simply to be restricted to people’s estimation of your sense that would be fine, however every year some people suffer irreversible sight and life changing events from these contact lenses.

In the UK, along with most other developed countries in the world, contact lenses are classed as medical devices, whether they are powered or not. This is for a reason, simply because they have the potential to permanently adversely affect your vision – potentially blind you – no beating around the bush with that statement!

I am sorry if I sound strident on this issue, but I’m sure you won’t equate the education and training of myself and my General Optical Council registered colleagues who have spent a minimum of four years education and training to be legally allowed to prescribe contact lenses, to being sold lenses of dubious quality, in a solution containing goodness know what, from a market stall or address without a prescription.

For a supplier to provide contact lenses without a valid contact lens prescription is illegal in the UK, you may not be aware of that, most suppliers are. Your eyes are a beautiful asset, please don’t risk being added to the list of people waiting for others to die to receive their corneas!