The American Optometric Association Launches New Contact Lens Safety Web Site

Consumer's questions about contact lenses answered at www.ContactLensSafety.org.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Optometric Association (AOA) launched www.ContactLensSafety.org, a new, easy-to-use Web site to help answer consumer questions about contact lens safety. The AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section (CLCS) created the site with the assistance of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO).

"With more than 30 million Americans wearing contact lenses for vision correction, we saw a need to be able to answer questions that may come up outside of normal business hours," said Thomas Quinn, Jr., O.D., AOA CLCS Council Member. "This site has been created to become a one-stop resource for questions regarding contact lens safety."

A wide range of information can be found on the site. Topics covered include lens replacement schedules, purchasing contact lenses and contact lens wear in various environments. Also included is the "Ask the Expert" section where consumers can submit their contact lens question to a panel of experts.

Dr. Quinn cautions that the site offers only information on contact lens safety and is not a substitute for an annual comprehensive eye examination.

About the American Optometric Association (AOA):
The American Optometric Association represents approximately 36,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors.

American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Prior to optometry school, optometrists typically complete four years of undergraduate study, culminating in a bachelor's degree. Required undergraduate coursework for pre-optometry students is extensive and covers a wide variety of advanced health, science and mathematics. Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. For more information, visit www.aoa.org

SOURCE American Optometric Association