Nearsightedness, Astigmatism, Health Benefit Claims

FTC has OK'd as final a consent agreement with Eye Research Associates, Inc. (d/b/a Eye Care Associates) and its owner. Under that final order, the respondents will be barred from claiming that Controlled Kerato-Reformation (CKR) or any similar procedure corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism. Also, the final order requires the company to have "competent and reliable scientific evidence" before making any health benefit claims that CKR or a similar procedure can, for example, stabilize vision after a few weeks or months of treatment, prevent or reverse nearsightedness in children, and enable pilots and other career professionals to meet occupational vision requirements.

The order also requires that El Hage notify eye care providers who attended one of his seminars, inform them of the settlement and request that any materials that violate the settlement not be used.

NOTE:A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $11,000.

(Eye Research Associates, Inc. (d/b/a Eye Care Associates) et al., FTC Dkt. No. C-3807, May 27, 1998; materials relating to this FTC matter are available on the Internet at FTC's World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov.)