Singapore, 20 July: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided five optical shops and found counterfeit CIBA VISION contact lenses.

The counterfeit lenses were fraudulently labelled as "FreshLook ColorBlends" Contact Lenses from CIBA VISION and found to be unsafe and of poor quality.

Tests showed that the lenses were packed in a solution that was contaminated with harmful bacteria.

This bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been known to cause serious eye infections.

These lenses are sold for aesthetic purposes and the correction of short sightedness.

HSA warned that using the counterfeit lenses could cause severe eye irritation, discomfort and pain. Users also risked getting eye infections.

This is the first case of counterfeit contact lenses being sold by optical shops in Singapore.

HSA is investigating the extent of the problem, and has increased its surveillance activities in optical shops to ensure that products sold are authentic.

Any persons found supplying, counterfeit medical devices may be fined $100,000 and/or jailed up to three years if convicted.

Source: Asiaone Health