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Contact Lenses Lead To Increased Pollution Concern

Another plastic waste is finding its way into oceans and lakes through millions of Americans, a study recently indicated. 

Used contact lenses are the source of a growing concern for pollution as a result of them being flushed instead of recycled, according to a study presented by Arizona State University researchers to the American Chemical Society.

“I wondered what happened to these lenses,” said Rolf Halden, director of ASU’s Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering. “In the bathroom, they can get lost in the sink or go down the toilet. I am an engineer, so let’s see how big the problem is.” 


Research shows that the problem is substantial with up to 20 percent of contact users disposing of the lenses through sinks or toilets. With the makeup of contact lenses consisting of a harder plastic, they don’t fully break down and eventually could end up harming animals in the wild. 

Approximately 50,000 pounds of contact lenses end up in the sewage system in the United States every year, but it is difficult to pinpoint what percentage of the flushed lenses end up in the water system.

The growing problem is becoming similar to that of straws, plastic ware and plastic bags, and as a result many companies are working on replacing those items with more biodegradable alternatives. 

Bausch + Lomb is the only producer of contact lenses runs a recycling program that has collected roughly 7 tons of contact lens waste. Johnson & Johnson has approached the issue by reducing the amount of paper and increasing the amount of recyclable product in its packaging.

A pair of leftover contact lenses can be found in every two pounds of sludge waste and the waste can eventually wash into bodies of water to come into contact with fish.

Banning contact lenses isn’t a realistic or desired approach as a result of how many people depend on them on a daily basis, but instead the hope is to make users aware of proper ways to dispose of their lenses. Informed users and more biodegradable packaging are the best methods to cut down on the pollution level at this point.