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Contact lenses

  Eye Examinations under PRSI contribution.

PRSI contributors are still entitled to a free eye examination every two years under the Optical Benefits Scheme*. There is no longer an entitlement to glasses or contact lenses since 2009 but contributors should continue to have their eye health checked regularly for free under the scheme.

* Subject to qualification criteria.

"COSMETIC" CONTACT LENSES

These are contact lenses that have no magnification power and are not for correction of vision. They are often coloured, or patterned, to change the colour of the iris or other cosmetic effect. They are sometimes sold in non-optician outlets.

It is illegal, under the Opticians Act, for such contact lenses to be sold by any person who is not qualified to do so i.e. an optician or doctor. There are many risks associated with non-supervised contact lens wear and there are examples of this leading to sight loss through infection. Infections of the cornea are incredibly painful and dangerous.

Please report any non-authorised outlet to this Association (info@aoi.ie) or to the Opticians Board. Do not accept assurances from unauthorised outlets that these are legal under EU law as this is not the case.

European Commission adopts health warning: "smoking increases the risk of blindness"

New scientific evidence on the health effects of tobacco use and the benefits of effective tobacco labelling has emerged since the adoption of Directive 2001/37/EC (on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products). The evidence for a causal link between smoking and visual impairment has been one factor that led the European Commission to revise the health warnings set out in the same Directive (Annex I). In March 2012, the European Commission has therefore adopted a number of new health warnings including "smoking increases the risk of blindness" which will in future be printed on tobacco products.

The European vision charity sector led by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) from the UK has been lobbying in partnership with representatives from ophthalmology, to convince the European Commission and EU governments to introduce this new sight loss warning on tobacco packets since 2006, and has since called for timely implementation across the EU.

Member States have until 2014 to introduce the new written health warnings on tobacco products. ECOO encourages its members to closely monitor the implementation of the directive in their respective countries and to join forces locally with the rest of the eye care sector to ensure the timely implementation

 

 

 

 

 

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Association of Optometrists Ireland, Kevin Culliton Rooms, 18 Greenmount House, Harolds Cross Rd, Dublin 6W
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