CONTACT lenses, a regulated medical device, are being sold for as little as RM10 in Kuala Lumpur, with some shops offering them without optometrists onsite and others stocking products that appear to be unregistered.
New Straits Times checks found at least 10 outlets selling contact lenses, including prescription lenses, raising concerns among eye specialists about potential health risk.
Unregistered lenses were sold for RM10 a pair, with packaging claiming they were "Made in Korea" but printed in Thai.
Prescription lenses with power of up to 1,000 were sold at the same price.
Observations at the shops revealed that lower-powered lenses had mostly sold out, while higher-powered lenses remained available.
When asked about lenses with a power of 100, a sales assistant said the shop was running low. Another shop said it had run out of these lenses.
Another brand that appeared to be registered was sold for RM15 for lenses without power and RM25 for those with power.
"All the lenses without power are here at the front. The ones with power are inside, I can get them for you," a sales assistant said.
Certain shops were also selling contact lens solutions.
Contact lenses and optical devices, including their solutions, are classified as medical devices under the Medical Devices Act 2012, meaning they must meet registration requirements before they can be sold or imported.
These products also require a prescription and must be dispensed by a registered optician or optometrist, as stipulated in Section 30 of the Optical Act 1991, enforced by the Malaysian Optical Council.
Medical Device Authority chief executive officer Dr Muralitharan Paramasua said optical devices should only be sold in registered premises by optometrists and that only registered devices should be offered.
When asked how the public can tell if a lens is registered, he said that a registration number must be printed on the packaging.
"The public should check the packaging. It must display a registration number on the label, which can then be verified through the MDA website's Public Search."
Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology executive committee member Associate Professor Datuk Dr Khairidzan Mohd Kamal said ophthalmologists in Malaysia continue to see preventable contact lens complications, including severe corneal infections, among people who obtain lenses through unsafe or poorly regulated channels.
"The problem is real and clinically significant. Malaysia has a National Eye Database registry for contact lens-related corneal ulcers.
"An early two-year review reported 202 cases, with a mean age of 26.7 years, 71.8 per cent female, and all cases involving soft lenses.
"Malaysian literature has also reported night market contact lens-related corneal ulcer, which shows that informal sales channels are not a theoretical risk," he said.
He said the biggest misconception is that coloured or cosmetic lenses without power are merely beauty accessories.
He said that as a contact lens sits directly on the surface of the eye, it interacts with the cornea, tear film, eyelids, oxygen transmission and ocular surface health.
"The Malaysian Optical Council defines a contact lens as a lens-shaped medical device mounted directly on the surface of the cornea and or conjunctiva of the eye.
"The MDA also that non-corrective contact lenses are regulated as medical devices.
"This is why fit, material quality, pigment design, hygiene, storage and wearing schedule all matter.
"A poorly made or poorly fitted lens can scratch the cornea, reduce oxygen delivery, trigger inflammation, and create an entry point for infection," he said.
Dr Khairidzan said the most serious complication associated with unregistered contact lenses is microbial keratitis, a corneal infection or corneal ulcer that can permanently scar the cornea and threaten sight.
Other common problems include corneal abrasion, sterile corneal infiltrates, contact lens-induced red eye, giant papillary conjunctivitis, allergic or toxic reactions, and significant ocular surface inflammation.
"Mechanical trauma or abrasion may occur at the point of insertion or removal.
"Bacterial keratitis can progress rapidly, and severe cases may lead to major corneal destruction within 24 to 48 hours if treatment is delayed.
"Acanthamoeba keratitis may present more insidiously, but delayed diagnosis is common and is associated with worse visual outcomes," he said.
Warning signs include red eyes, pain, worsening discomfort even after lens removal, blurred vision, light sensitivity, excessive watering, discharge, foreign body sensation, or a visible white spot on the cornea.
"These symptoms should never be dismissed as minor irritation. The practical rule is simple.
"If a contact lens wearer has a painful red eye, reduced vision, or photophobia, they should remove the lens immediately and seek urgent same-day assessment by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
"Contact lens related microbial keratitis is an ocular emergency," he said.
He urged the public not to buy coloured or cosmetic contact lenses from roadside booths, pasar malam stalls, social media sellers, or unverified online listings.
Consumers should only purchase lenses after a proper eye examination and fitting by a registered optometrist, or a registered optician with a contact lens permit, and ensure the lenses are registered with the MDA.
"Consumers can verify product registration and licensed establishments through the MDA public search portal.
"Never share lenses. Never sleep in them unless specifically prescribed.
"Keep lenses away from water. If the eye becomes red, painful, sensitive to light, or blurry, stop wearing the lens immediately and seek urgent care."
He said sleeping with contact lenses increases the risk of contact lens related eye infection by six to eightfold.
He added that contact lenses are medical devices, not harmless fashion items, and that cheap, unregistered or improperly fitted lenses can cause sight-threatening complications within a short period of time.
"MSO supports firm enforcement by the MDA, the Malaysian Optical Council, local authorities, online platforms, and retailers.
"We also strongly encourage the public to verify whether a contact lens is registered before purchase and to report suspicious or unsafe products to the relevant authorities," he said.
He said the biggest misconception is that coloured or cosmetic lenses without power are merely beauty accessories.
He said that as a contact lens sits directly on the surface of the eye, it interacts with the cornea, tear film, eyelids, oxygen transmission and ocular surface health.
"The Malaysian Optical Council defines a contact lens as a lens-shaped medical device mounted directly on the surface of the cornea and or conjunctiva of the eye.
"The MDA also states that non-corrective contact lenses are regulated as medical devices. This is why fit, material quality, pigment design, hygiene, storage and wearing schedule all matter.
"A poorly made or poorly fitted lens can scratch the cornea, reduce oxygen delivery, trigger inflammation and create an entry point for infection," he said.
Dr Khairidzan said the most serious complication associated with unregistered contact lenses is microbial keratitis, a corneal infection or corneal ulcer that can permanently scar the cornea and threaten sight.
Other common problems include corneal abrasion, sterile corneal infiltrates, contact lens-induced red eye, giant papillary conjunctivitis, allergic or toxic reactions and significant ocular surface inflammation.
"Mechanical trauma or abrasion may occur at the point of insertion or removal.
"Bacterial keratitis can pro-gress rapidly, and severe cases may lead to major corneal destruction within 24 to 48 hours if treatment is delayed.
"Acanthamoeba keratitis may present more insidiously, but delayed diagnosis is common and is associated with worse visual outcomes."
Warning signs include red eyes, pain, worsening discomfort even after lens removal, blurred vision, light sensitivity, excessive watering, discharge, foreign body sensation, or a visible white spot on the cornea.
"These symptoms should never be dismissed as minor irritation.
"The practical rule is simple: If contact lens wearers have a painful red eye, reduced vision, or photophobia, they should remove the lens immediately and seek urgent same-day assessment by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
"Contact lens-related microbial keratitis is an ocular emergency."
He urged the public not to buy coloured or cosmetic contact lenses from roadside booths, pasar malam stalls, social media sellers, or unverified online listings.
Consumers should only buy lenses after an eye examination and fitting by a registered optometrist, or a registered optician with a contact lens permit, and ensure the lenses are registered with the MDA.
"Consumers can verify product registration and licensed establishments through the MDA public search portal. Never share lenses. Never sleep in them unless specifically prescribed.
"Keep lenses away from water. If the eye becomes red, painful, sensitive to light, or blurry, stop wearing the lens immediately and seek urgent care."
He said sleeping with contact lenses increases the risk of contact lens-related eye infection by six to eightfold.
He added that contact lenses are medical devices, not harmless fashion items, and that cheap, unregistered or improperly fitted lenses can cause sight-threatening complications within a short period of time.
"MSO supports firm enforcement by the MDA, the Malaysian Optical Council, local authorities, online platforms and retailers.
"We also encourage the public to verify whether a contact lens is registered before purchase and to report suspicious or unsafe products to the authorities."
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