is it illegal to sell contacts without asking for a prescription?
theres a store called "Maybee NewYork" in the mall near me. they sell contact lenses to change the color of your eyes but they dont ask for a prescription or have any kind of legal documents that say they are allowed to sell items like this. Since you need a prescription to buy contacts and they are considered medical, is what this store doing illegal?
Yes, it is illegal.
But the government isn’t active in stopping things like that until there is a complaint.
Dealers like that aren’t aware of the heavy fines they would pay if someone injures their eyes from using those lenses , and sues.
Many beauty stores and hairdressers sell them, unaware that they are breaking the law. Or just don’t care, even if they do know.
Non corrective lenses fall under the same category as corrective lenses in the USA , they are still contact lenses with the same possible dangers.
Not asking for a prescription isn’t the problem. It’s selling them without being licenced to do so. Only Ophthalmologists, Optometrists or Opticians are licenced to do so.
Yes, it is illegal.
But the government isn’t active in stopping things like that until there is a complaint.
Dealers like that aren’t aware of the heavy fines they would pay if someone injures their eyes from using those lenses , and sues.
Many beauty stores and hairdressers sell them, unaware that they are breaking the law. Or just don’t care, even if they do know.
Non corrective lenses fall under the same category as corrective lenses in the USA , they are still contact lenses with the same possible dangers.
Not asking for a prescription isn’t the problem. It’s selling them without being licenced to do so. Only Ophthalmologists, Optometrists or Opticians are licenced to do so.
References :
Optician
Most likley not. They are not refracting or perscribing corrective lenses. If they teach ya how to put em in and take em out as well as show you how to clean and care for the lenses and you sign their waivers and there is no R/X involved you are responsible for the care of your own eyes and what you put in them. Most everything in our flesh can be fixed but we only get one set of eyes and they cannot be replaced. If you neglect your teeth you get cavities it you neglect your eyes you can go blind.
References :
licenced Optician for 20 years