FASHION contact lenses could be damaging to youngsters' eyes, claims a local health chief.

Morecambe Bay's Director of Public Health, Dr Nick Gent, has issued a warning about fashion contact lenses and written to GPs, pharmacists, opticians and trading standards officers in the district to voice concerns about the so-called crazy contact lenses.

He said today: "We have had at least one case of some damage being done to a young persons eyes by these contact lenses. They are being sold by fashion outlets who are unable to offer any professional advice about disinfection or how to use them. They are soft lenses and are designed to be worn for about a month. We are hearing that they are being swapped by young people - a dangerous practice at any time. The lenses have no optical benefit at all, they are purely fashion accessories, but they can do harm to the eyes." He added: "I am concerned that these could be quite hazardous if used in an unsafe way.

I have alerted other health professionals that they may be asked to deal with further cases of eye damage caused by these lenses, which can also be obtained from an internet web site."

He advised that anyone using these fashion lenses should seek advice about how to use them, otherwise they run the risk of doing permanent damage to the eyes.