Madam Chairperson and members of the Standing Committee on Health, thank you for allowing me today to address you on this important issue.
I would like to express at this time my gratitude to Ms. Patricia Davidson, MP for Sarnia—Lambton, for bringing the issue of non-corrective cosmetic contact lenses to the attention of the House of Commons.
As an ophthalmologist who specializes in corneal diseases and surgery, I regularly see in my practice contact-lens-related corneal infections. These infections may cause irreversible damage from corneal scarring, sometimes necessitating corneal transplantation. Non-corrective cosmetic contact lenses are also prone to these same complications and are no different from other contact lenses in this regard.
At the outset, a patient seeking vision corrections with contact lenses requires an eye care professional, an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician, to examine them carefully in order that a determination be made as to the feasibility of contact lens wear. Many diseases or conditions may make contact lens wear unsafe, and patients may be unaware that they have these conditions. For example, dry eyes or certain medications that are common in young people, such as accutane for treatment of acne, among others, may make contact lens wear unsafe and inadvisable.
Once the patient's ocular health has been found to be suitable, then a recommendation on the type of contact lens can be made. Subsequent to this, a properly fitting contact lens is required. The patient needs to be capable of adhering to a proper wearing schedule, and proper disinfecting procedures also need to be learned and followed by these patients. Close follow-up after initial fitting will allow for the observation of any ill effects.
Patients who purchase non-corrective contacts on the Internet or from retail outlets without the benefit of interaction with an eye care professional and proper instruction as to wearing schedules and disinfection procedures are at high risk of corneal infections. As Ms. Davidson has pointed out, there are recent studies to suggest that they are even more prone to infections and complications.
Corneal injury from contact lenses is a significant public health issue in Canada. The incidents may be as a high as 0.5% to 1% in contact lens wearers. This would include microbial keratitis or corneal infections, corneal abrasions, which may lead to infections, and growth of new blood vessels in the cornea from hypoxia or lack of oxygen. When these complications occur and loss of vision ensues, the morbidity is truly catastrophic.
Personally, the most unfortunate patient that I have seen was a young woman who wore contact lenses overnight and developed bilateral central corneal ulcers from an aggressive bacteria. This caused central corneal scarring and poor vision, and it caused her to require corneal transplants at a young age.
Other countries, notably the United States, are ahead of us with this issue, having passed appropriate legislation in the year 2005.
I would ask that this committee recommend that Bill C-313 be passed in the House of Commons.
Thank you very much for allowing me to present this brief to you today. I'd be happy to entertain any questions.