Why you should never wear cheap contact lenses

Julian Hamlin had to undergo 15 surgeries after wearing $15 contact lenses

Julian Hamlin is legally blind in his left eye (geteyesmart/YouTube)

A man was left nearly-blind in one eye after wearing cheap non-prescription contact lenses.

Julian Hamlin had to undergo 15 surgeries, including seven corneal transplants, since suffering a severe corneal ulcer which later developed into glaucoma from increased eye pressure.

He told BuzzFeed there were "no warnings or instructions about the risks" on a pack of $15 (£9.70) contact lenses he bought without prescription in 2010

After wearing them almost everyday, he woke up with a severe eye infection in 2012, despite replacing the contact lenses and disinfecting them regularly.

Now, he is legally blind in his left eye.

“My left eye is completely blurry; it’s been a big transition. I’ve had to miss so many days of work, and I can’t lift anything over 25 pounds because it increases the pressure in my eyes, so I’m limited in my jobs,” he told BuzzFeed Life.

Mr Hamlin often has to wear an eye patch or sunglasses because of the increased sensitivity in his eyes.

Some studies have shown cheap lenses don't allow as much oxygen through for the eye to breathe properly, and are also more likely to trap germs and cause scratching.

"It's not even worth it," Mr Hamlin said. "Be who you are. There's no need to try to change who you are.

"I did that, and I'm still suffering."