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ARBO releases initial contact lens complications study results

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ATLANTA — The Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) has been collecting data on complications caused by contact lenses dispensed without a valid prescriptions and released initial results here at SECO International.

“The initial results are demonstrating just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger issue,” ARBO President Russell W. Jones, OD, said in a press release. “Contact lenses are medical devices that must be properly dispensed to patients to ensure good comfort and visual health. Patients who obtain contact lenses without a valid prescription put themselves at risk for potential loss of vision.”

ARBO collected 116 reports in 2003. Stinging was reported by 42% of the total respondents, followed by neovascularization/pannus in 37% and foreign body sensation in 36%.

Other signs and symptoms reported by patients were: burning (35%), corneal edema (34%), corneal epithelial defect (29%), pain (29%), conjunctivitis (27%), corneal infiltrate (25%), ocular inflammation (24%), corneal distortion (22%), dry eye (22%), keratitis (22%), giant papillary conjunctivitis (19%), corneal ulcer (18%), itching (15%), discharge (13%), “other” (11%), corneal opacity (10%), blurred vision (5%) and iritis (2%).

The most common outcome for patients was short-term vision loss (22%), followed by “other” outcomes (10%), return to pre-incident status (7%), permanent vision loss (6%), permanent scarring (5%) and penetrating keratoplasty (less than 1%).

The actual documentation of patient complications is conducted by eye care professionals completing the Contact Lens Complications Form available from ARBO. ARBO will continue to compile this information and will periodically update eye care professionals, state attorneys general, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission in an effort to show the extent and severity of contact lens complications associated with the sale of contact lenses without valid prescriptions. Eye care professionals can download the form from the ARBO Web site at www.arbo.org, or forms can be requested by contacting ARBO at (314) 785-6000, fax: (314) 785-6002 or arbo@arbo.org.