ID :
12212
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 12:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/12212
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Japan to Regulate Sales of Colored Contact Lenses
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's health ministry plans toregulate the sales of colored contact lenses in the country by designating them as medical devices, following a series of reports of eye troubles caused by improper use, informed sources said Friday.
By revising the ministry ordinance related to the pharmaceutical affairs law before the end of March 2008 at the earliest, the ministry plans to have colored contact lenses treated the same as vision corrective contactlenses, the sources said.
As colored contact lenses are normally used to change the eye color for fashion purposes and do not correct eyesight, they have been categorized as sundry articles in Japan and can be purchased without doctors'prescription.
Most colored contact lenses sold in Japan are imported fromcountries like South Korea. Annual imports reach some five million lenses.
Because many colored contact lens users do not see doctors, there have been frequent reports of eye diseases such as keratitis andconjunctivitis caused by improper use of the lenses.
Once colored contact lenses are regulated under the pharmaceutical affairs law, sales outlets will be required to obtain business permission from prefectural governors and have their staff explain the risksaccompanying the lenses' use.
By revising the ministry ordinance related to the pharmaceutical affairs law before the end of March 2008 at the earliest, the ministry plans to have colored contact lenses treated the same as vision corrective contactlenses, the sources said.
As colored contact lenses are normally used to change the eye color for fashion purposes and do not correct eyesight, they have been categorized as sundry articles in Japan and can be purchased without doctors'prescription.
Most colored contact lenses sold in Japan are imported fromcountries like South Korea. Annual imports reach some five million lenses.
Because many colored contact lens users do not see doctors, there have been frequent reports of eye diseases such as keratitis andconjunctivitis caused by improper use of the lenses.
Once colored contact lenses are regulated under the pharmaceutical affairs law, sales outlets will be required to obtain business permission from prefectural governors and have their staff explain the risksaccompanying the lenses' use.
