At the beginning of each month this year, we look back (or look forward) as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Contact Lens Spectrum. This month, we consider the regulation of contact lenses. Going back in time (see article below from the Contact Lens Centennial published in 1987), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began regulating soft contact lenses in the late 1960s. Fast forward to present day, we now have a 2-agency regulatory framework that includes the FDA and Federal Trade Commission. Seen through the lens of several decades, this regulatory journey highlights the dynamic interplay between policy and patient care that continues to shape our profession.
