KUALA LUMPUR: The Medical Device Authority (MDA) received 48 complaints about the sale, advertising and marketing of unlicensed optical devices and contact lenses since the ban on online sales came into effect in March.
Its chief executive, Dr P Muralitharan, said that all medical devices, including optical devices and contact lenses, are controlled under the Medical Devices Act (Act 737), which requires them to be registered and evaluated by the MDA and the Malaysian Optical Council to verify their safety.
"Such medical devices, such as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical devices, can only be bought at optical shops, where an optometrist can provide a prescription," he said when met at Wisma Bernama on Monday (April 14), adding that advertising of such devices required approval from the authorities as well.
He added that optical devices sold online could cause injuries to the cornea and damage one's eyesight permanently.
He also stressed that MDA can catch or raid those selling such devices, leading to two years' jail or RM200,000 in fines for each offence. He urged those with information about such sales to lodge a complaint at the MDA (FEMES) feedback management system at https://femes.mda.gov.my/ or via email to mdb@mda.gov.my. – Bernama
