CALL TO OUTLAW FASHION LENSES.

THE Government is to be asked to ban the sale of contact lenses without prescription in a bid to tackle the growing problem of eye infection among children.

Youngsters are buying the coloured and patterned lenses over the counter and at car boot sales -then swapping them with pals, who risk going blind.

Two years ago the Sunday Mercury reported on the dangers -but the Government has been slow to act.

Labour's Glasgow Anniesland MP, John Robertson, is now leading a campaign to stop shops from selling the lenses.

'Contact lenses are not cosmetics,' he said. 'They should not be treated as fashion accessories.

'The sales staff are not trained to fit the lenses, instruct users on how to insert them, how to keep lenses sterile or how to avoid eye infections.

'Children are swapping their lenses with their chums, without knowing anything about the risks.'

Mr Robertson will urge Ministers to ensure that only registered opticians are allowed to dispense contact lenses.

He plans to introduce a Bill to parliament next week to reclassify non-prescription lenses as medical devices to be sold only by registered doctors or opticians.