Officials warn about colored contact lenses sales

State officials are warning Illinoisans that buying colored contact lenses from unlicensed eye care professionals puts them at risk of eye infections, scratches on their retinas and even blindness.

According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the lenses that are popular, particularly among teenagers, are often sold at malls and flea markets from vendors who are not adequately trained. The agency says it is illegal for anyone other than licensed eye care professionals to sell the lenses.

The agency says it has ordered beauty supply stores and flea markets to stop selling the lenses without a prescription and has fined vendors that do not have the proper health care license up to $10,000.