Counterfeit coloured contact lenses sold in Singapore

Recently, counterfeit contact lenses fraudulently labelled as “FreshLook® ColorBlends®” Contact Lenses from CIBA VISION were found to be distributed illegally by optical shops in Singapore. On testing, these products were found to be unsafe and of poor quality. These counterfeit contact lenses were sold for aesthetic purposes and for the correction of short sightedness.

Dangers of using counterfeit lenses

The safety and quality of these counterfeit products cannot be ascertained as their manufacturing processes and conditions are unknown. Laboratory analyses of these counterfeit lenses by HSA and CIBA VISION have confirmed that they are unsafe, of poor quality and deficient in many aspects. The solution which the lenses were packaged in was found to contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known to cause severe eye infections. Additionally, the counterfeit lenses have lower water content and were thicker in the lens' centre compared to the genuine products. These defects would minimise the oxygen permeability of the lenses.

The use of a counterfeit product, in particular, one that is placed directly on the eye, may seriously affect the user's eyesight and also potentially lead to serious complications such as eye infections, corneal ulcers and blindness. Throbbing pain, redness of the eye and blurred vision are some examples of adverse reactions reported with the use of these counterfeit lenses.

HSA action

Investigations and surveillance by HSA has detected five optical shops to be in possession of these counterfeit contact lenses. All counterfeit lenses from these shops have been seized. Further investigation has provided information relating to possible suppliers of the counterfeit coloured contact lenses and HSA officers are pursuing these leads.

HSA's advisory

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to report cases of serious adverse reactions associated with the use of contact lenses such as severe eye infections or corneal ulcers despite good contact lenses hygiene practices to the Vigilance Branch. In view of this episode, HSA encourages healthcare professionals to provide certain key information such as the brand, place and period of purchase in the ADR report, where possible, to assist in the detection of counterfeit contact lenses sold locally.

Published: 22 Aug 2011

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