Superdrug contact lenses sales probed

The GOC said this week it would make a statement shortly about the sale of plano contact lenses through Superdrug outlets.

It follows the withdrawal of Argos from the sector last September after Optician informed the giant catalogue retailer that it could be in breach of the changes in legislation involving contact lenses.

Superdrug has been selling plano coloured contact lenses 'Eye 2 Eye Contact' since last summer in 20 UK outlets including Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds and London.

The health and beauty retailer operates over 700 stores in  the UK and has sales of over £1bn per annum.

Postings on the optometry forum www.theoptom.com this week discussed whether Superdrug's over the counter sale of the cosmetic contact lenses was in breach of legislation.

One user branded Superdrug's sale of plano lenses 'illegal and in breach of Section 60 of the Opticians Act', while another said it fell under the Cosmetic Safety Regulation Act and that the GOC would be unlikely to take any action.