ST. LOUIS—Purchasing contact lenses online could cause problems for the consumers who buy their CLs there, according to a new study reported in the January issue of “Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association.”

The research, conducted by Joshua Fogel and Chaya Zidile of Brooklyn College, found that individuals who purchase their CLs from an online site or retail store rather than from an eyecare practitioner potentially place themselves at greater risk. The findings indicate that consumers who buy contacts online or at a wholesale club or optical chain outlet are less likely to adhere to healthy eyecare practices.

“We found that a pattern exists regarding the method of contact lens purchasing and following recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration,” said Fogel. “Those who bought CLs at their doctor’s office followed a number of FDA recommendations more so than those who bought contact lenses elsewhere.”

The study, which researched the purchasing and eyecare behaviors of 151 CL wearers, found that 86 percent of individuals who purchased their lenses from an ECP received a yearly comprehensive eye exam; only 76.5 percent of those who purchased their CLs via the Internet saw an ECP on a routine basis.

“Frequent optometric examinations are a vital part of a contact lens wearer’s preventive health care routine,” said Louise Sclafani, OD, chair of the AOA’s contact lens and cornea section. “Having one’s eye health and vision examined on a regular, timely basis is important to maintaining overall health and can even lead to early detection of various diseases.”

One of the largest discrepancies found between in-office and out-of-office CL purchases was seen in the number of individuals who saw an ECP for a follow-up appointment to ensure the proper fit of their lenses: 57 percent of individuals who purchased their lenses from an ECP went in for a follow-up appointment, vs. only 29 percent of online purchasers.