So I'm sitting in the library reaching
for the magazine rack next to the sink and I see one of those
pharmaceutical ads – the ones that make up at least half of all
magazine ads. The woman says she uses artificial tears all the time,
so she went to see the doctor and she told her she has a disease!
Horror! So they are selling some drug with a ridiculous name (I won't
name it here). I see it says at the bottom of the full page ad to see
the next page for a brief summary of the full product information. It
also reminds me that my results may vary.
I flip over and look at the small
print. My eye which is plenty moist is drawn to the toxicology part.
It is divided into three categories: carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and
impairment of fertility. Translation: does it cause cancer, does it
damage genes and will it make you sterile. It says right in the first
paragraph that in a mouse study for 78 weeks that “statistically
significant” incidence was found for lymphocytic lymphomas in
female mice and hepatocellular carcinomas in males. OMG. They are
saying it caused cancer. Right there. I don't care if they force fed
the mice their daily body weight in it. I'm going to take something
that causes cancer when ingested and put it on my eye? I don't think
so!
I am completely appalled that a company
can sell something they acknowledge causes cancer and people will buy
it. For dry eyes! Many people take conscious steps to increase their
health and avoid cancer – look at the amount of sun screen sold,
yet most of those same people would be shocked to know that the
product they took that was recommended by their doctor and a magazine
ad will increase their cancer risk.
I guess it is no small victory for the
people that the companies have to put that info out there, but who
reads it? I'm sure there would be corporate types saying “well, we
told them”. Yes, they did. Everyone, please read labels – at
least know what you are putting on your eyes or maybe giving to your
children.
Ron
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