ISLAMABAD, Aug 8:  The Al-Shifa Trut Eye Hospital has warned that the trend of using contact lenses for cosmetic reasons is on the increase, leading to serious eye and vision problems.

“We are receiving many newly married women from middle and low income groups with coloured contact lenses affixed to their cornea in a way when it is removed it damages cornea, pushing them into permanent blindness for the rest of their lives, said Al-Shifa Executive Director, Brig (retd) Rizwan ullah Asghar in a statement on Wednesday.

Roadside beauty parlours and quacks are providing inferior quality contact lenses to women seeking enhanced appearance which is leading many into permanent blindness, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital said.

He said that many girls use substandard coloured contact lenses for good looks before marriage without knowing the negative effects like serious eye injuries and inflamed cornea. After experiencing problems, most consult common practitioners only to make matter worst, he added.

Many boys and girls who wish to make an impact on special occasions by changing the apparent colour of their eyes end up developing ulcers or losing sight because of their choice, Mr Asghar said.

Those who wear quality contact lenses are not immune to the problems; the lenses causes change in the cornea structure, turnover, tear production, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, loss of vision,  keratitis, and other dozens of problems, said Dr Ayesha Khalid, a specialist at the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.

She said that loose or tight lens, poor lens care, damaged lens, and dried lens are some of the issues most of the educated users would ignore to pay the price later.

According to her, trend of contact lenses is on the rise globally; presently some 120 million peoples use these lenses while the percentage of contact lens related diseases among them is rising at an alarming level because of the lack of awareness about appropriate handling, cleaning and disinfection techniques.