TEXARKANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/15/05
Cpl. Bart Veal
Public Information Officer
903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)
903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)
Today (June 15th) the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department working in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Health Drug Control Unit completed an undercover buy of contact lens in the Buy and Save Retail Store at 926 N. State Line Avenue. The undercover buy was initiated after complaints were received that employees of the store were selling contact lenses without a licensed optometrist on site.
Investigator Les Moody with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department and Investigator Jim Bona with the Arkansas Department of Health arranged the undercover buy from the retail store. Upon completion of the undercover buy, investigators then entered the store and found 608 pairs of various colors of contact lenses.
Contact lenses are sold by prescription only by licensed optometrist. The Arkansas Department of Health Drug Control Unit contacted the Texarkana Police Department upon receiving a complaint from a person who purchased a pair of the lenses and suffered an eye injury.
Arkansas State Law 17-90-104 provides that it is unlawful “for any person, firm, corporation, or partnership not having a license, to engage in the practice of optometry”. Violation of the provisions of the practice act is a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than $50.00 and no more than $500.00 for each and every day the violation occurs. The employee’s responsible for the undercover sells were issued citation for the violation. The business may also face the “Board of Optometrist” for possible violation and financial sanctions.
The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department wants to make the public aware that purchasing contact lenses without properly being diagnosed by a licensed optometrist can result in serious injury to the eye and eyesight. If anyone has information concerning the illegal sale of contact lenses, please contact Investigator Les Moody at 903.798.3192 or Investigator Jim Bona at 501.661.2325. Complaints can also be filed with the Arkansas State Board of Optometry.
Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.