The optical clinic is located across the street from the Susupe Post Office. As a result, the woman suffered from swollen lids, eye pain and redness and keratitis (corneal inflammation). Fortunately, the woman will not suffer from permanent eye damage.
The Attorney General’s Investigative Unit began an investigation and learned that the merchant was in fact, selling the “fashion” lenses to customers who did not have a prescription for the lenses.
The optical clinic cooperated fully with the investigation and numerous pairs of lenses were removed from the stream of commerce.
The optical clinic has ceased selling the contact lenses and is currently in discussions with the Office of the Attorney General to reach an agreement as to compensation for persons injured by the illegal sales.
The Bureau of Environmental Health Inspector confiscated items mentioned above.
If you have purchased contact lenses (even “fashion” lenses) in the CNMI from a merchant without a valid prescription, you should seek a medical eye exam immediately.
The sale of contact lenses, even so-called “fashion” lenses, requires a prescription in the CNMI.
Any merchant in the CNMI who sells contact lenses (even if the lens power is -0.00) without a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner is violating CNMI law as well as federal regulations and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
