37 Businesses to Stop Selling ‘Unlawful’ Contact Lenses

Thirty-seven store owners and wholesale distribution companies in Texas have agreed to stop selling “unlawful and potentially dangerous” contact lenses in Texas, according to the state’s attorney general.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a press release that his office had secured “Assurances of Voluntary Compliance” from the businesses. The owners have made refunds available to consumers and will pay more than $140,000 in civil penalties and attorneys’ fees.

The attorney general’s office began its investigation in March 2016 after undercover sweeps by the San Antonio Police Department turned up more than two dozen stores selling contact lenses without requiring consumers to provide a prescription, violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Optometry Act, according to the release.

Information provided by retailers led to investigations by the attorney general’s office into the distributors of the contact lenses. Ten companies – located primarily in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas – marketed the lenses to novelty shops, corner stores and gas stations, the release states.

“My office’s contact lens sweep is a reminder to Texans to safeguard their vision by using only contact lenses prescribed for them by a licensed practitioner,” Paxton said. “We will continue to take appropriate action against retailers and businesses that endanger consumers by selling unlawful lenses. We strongly urge anyone who has found retailers selling lenses without a prescription to contact our office.”

  • Medical Disclaimer

    Let me get the boring, legally necessary stuff out of the way: The content here is for your intellectual amusement and general information only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Your eyes are unique little biological cameras, and what works for your neighbor’s myopia might leave yours in a state of permanent confusion.

    Please, for the love of Snellen charts, consult a qualified eye care professional before trying to self-diagnose based on a blog post. If you suddenly lose sight, experience pain that makes you want to scream, or manage to injure your eye in a way that defies physics, stop reading this and seek immediate medical attention. We’d all prefer you keep your eyeballs intact, thank you very much.

  • Goodrich Optical Logo


    Contact us



    Visit us anytime

    Goodrich Optical, 2450 Delhi Commerce Dr. Holt, MI 48842


    Send us an email

    info@goodrichoptical.com



    Subscribe


    Sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest eye health news as well as offers and discounts from Goodrich Optical.






      Copyright © 2026 all rights reserved.



      Copyright ©2026 all rights reserved