Toxic cancer-causing ‘forever chemicals’ found in ALL contact lenses tested by scientists – as experts fear they don’t know long-term effects
Toxic, cancer-causing “forever chemicals” were found in all contact lenses tested by scientists, a study found.
Researchers from a number of American universities, including North Carolina State University, tested 18 different pairs of soft contact lenses in an EPA-certified lab to see if they contained PFAS, also known as forever chemicals.
Each pair of lenses can be supported with levels of organic flour, which is a marker for PFAS.
These chemicals have been found in almost every type of consumer good, including pots and pans, makeup, menstrual products, and even carpets.
Researchers are unclear about the risks of carrying it in your eyes, but PFAS has been linked to numerous health problems, including fertility problems, liver damage and cancer.
It is difficult to know what health effects PFAS exposure through contact lenses would have because no studies have been conducted on how the eyes absorb PFAS from lenses
Scott Belcher, a researcher at North Carolina State University and scientific advisor for contact lens testing, said: “You might consider [the lenses] almost pure PFAS.’
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 14,000 man-made chemicals that repel grease, water, stains and heat.
They are forever called chemicals because they do not decompose naturally.
The tests, commissioned by Mamavation and Environmental Health News public health blogs and conducted in an EPA-approved laboratory, looked for traces of organic fluorine in lenses from the Acuvue, Alcon and Coopervision brands.
They collected 18 different products currently on the market. At least half were daily contact lenses.
Flourine was detected between 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700 ppm.
This means that all contact lenses tested exceeded 100 ppm, which is equivalent to 100,000,000 ppt, or 50,000 times the highest level considered safe by the EPA in drinking water.
According to the American Chemical Society, contact lenses are usually made with a mixture of poly(methyl methacrylate), silicone and fluoropolymers — normally contained in PFAS — to make a softer material that allows oxygen to pass through to the eye.
Fluoropolymer PFAS is essentially a soft plastic and is ideal for disposable soft lenses because, as Mr Belcher said, ‘they have the properties your eyes want’.
He told The protector: “It wants to get oxygen and doesn’t want bacteria growing like crazy, and it wants lenses to be smooth and comfortable.”
It is difficult to know what health effects PFAS exposure through contact lenses would have because no studies have been conducted on how the eyes absorb PFAS from lenses.
The three lenses with the highest amounts of fluorine were Alcon Air Optix Colors with Smartshield Technology (20,700 ppm), Alcon Total30 Contact Lenses for Daily Wear (20,400 ppm), and Alcon Air Optix (No Hydraglide) for Astigmatism (20,000 ppm).
At the lower end were Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus with UV blocking (113ppm) and Alcon Dailies Total One-Day Water Gradient for Astigmatism (106ppm).