Colored lenses face regulatory eye
By Staff Reporters |
January 21, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S drug watchdog is drawing up plans to restrict the production and import of colored contact lenses because the unregulated products may impair users' eyes.
The plan resulted in millions of online comments yesterday, with most people concerned about the safety of the products, which do not undergo the drug authority's supervision.
According to a statement from the State Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, the popular cosmetic lenses will be listed as medical appliances and the agency is drafting a rule on their production and sale.
"Then any company failing to receive the license will be banned from production or sales of the product," the SFDA statement said.
Colored contact lenses have gained great popularity among young Chinese since 2008, as they can change the wearer's eye color and iris pattern to look prettier.
The administration said cosmetic lenses weren't listed as medical gear since they have only a decorative function without fixing vision. The authority has decided to regulate them due to the lenses' wide use and potential risk.
"Their sales will be strictly regulated and manufacturers required to get production licenses issued by SFDA," said the statement.
The administration warned people that the colored lenses may contain bacteria and inferior dye and cause harm to the eyes.
Major producers of colored contact lenses defended their product.
"All the Acuvue colorful contact lenses are registered products and allowed to be sold in China," said Jeffrey Yu, a public relations representative for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd, the official dealer of Acuvue in China.
Local doctors said it's good for the government to tighten the administration on cosmetic lenses. Dr Bi Yanlong, vice director of Tongji Hospital's eye department, said people should buy products from big companies and avoid wearing the lenses for a long time.
"As pigment is used on cosmetic lenses to dye them into different colors, there is risk to the cornea," he said. "If the cornea suffers viral infection, it could be very dangerous."
Doctors also stressed that minors should avoid wearing such lenses.
The plan resulted in millions of online comments yesterday, with most people concerned about the safety of the products, which do not undergo the drug authority's supervision.
According to a statement from the State Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, the popular cosmetic lenses will be listed as medical appliances and the agency is drafting a rule on their production and sale.
"Then any company failing to receive the license will be banned from production or sales of the product," the SFDA statement said.
Colored contact lenses have gained great popularity among young Chinese since 2008, as they can change the wearer's eye color and iris pattern to look prettier.
The administration said cosmetic lenses weren't listed as medical gear since they have only a decorative function without fixing vision. The authority has decided to regulate them due to the lenses' wide use and potential risk.
"Their sales will be strictly regulated and manufacturers required to get production licenses issued by SFDA," said the statement.
The administration warned people that the colored lenses may contain bacteria and inferior dye and cause harm to the eyes.
Major producers of colored contact lenses defended their product.
"All the Acuvue colorful contact lenses are registered products and allowed to be sold in China," said Jeffrey Yu, a public relations representative for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd, the official dealer of Acuvue in China.
Local doctors said it's good for the government to tighten the administration on cosmetic lenses. Dr Bi Yanlong, vice director of Tongji Hospital's eye department, said people should buy products from big companies and avoid wearing the lenses for a long time.
"As pigment is used on cosmetic lenses to dye them into different colors, there is risk to the cornea," he said. "If the cornea suffers viral infection, it could be very dangerous."
Doctors also stressed that minors should avoid wearing such lenses.
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