• Cookies Policy
  • ASAI and Remote Working
  • Links
  • Publications
Ph: (01) 6137040 // Email: standards@asai.ie
linkedin
twitter
  • Welcome
  • Make a complaint
    • Advertisement or Promotion
    • Online Behavioural Avertising
  • About ASAI
  • Advertising & Self Regulation
  • ASAI Code
  • Complaints Bulletins
  • News

Health & Beauty

November 03, 2016
by Seona Parker
Comments are off

Print This Post Print This Post
Bulletin: 16/6
Batch: 237
Reference: 25878
Product: Health & Beauty
Advertiser: Laser Vision Eye Clinic
Influencer:
Agency:
Medium: Internet (Company Website)
Codes:ASAI Code 6th Edition: 1.6(c), 2.9, 2.22, 2.24

  • Advertisement
  • Complaint
  • Response
  • Conclusion
  • Under the Frequently Asked Questions section on the advertisers’ website one of the questions posed was:

    “Is laser vision correction permanent?
    Yes. 5 year follow-up studies indicate that after the healing process is complete your eyesight remains stable.”

  • The complainant said she had unilateral Laski eye surgery performed in 2007.
    The complainant said she was happy with the results of the surgery for about five years and then her distance vision gradually began to deteriorate. She considered that it was misleading for the advertisers to advertise their procedures as being ‘permanent’ if this was not the case.

  • The advertisers said that it would be inappropriate for them to discuss a patient’s medical details without their consent and that they were finding it difficult to address the precise details of the complaint. They said, however, that if the complainant had laser eye surgery at their clinic they would have been informed in great detail of the risks and benefits attached to having their surgery. They said that, while laser treatment involved a permanent change to the cornea (removal of corneal tissue by photoablation and reshaping), a patient’s refraction can change through life for various reasons, including age and in a small percentage of cases after refractive surgery regression may occur.

    The advertisers asked the Executive to explain exactly what they wished them to address.

    Further Information:
    The Executive asked the advertisers to address the claim on their website in relation to the permanency of the correction, as this was the issue raised by the complainant.

    In response the advertisers said that the information provided on their website was accurate and true. They said Excimer laser treatment for refractive errors was permanent and the removal of corneal tissue by this type of laser was also permanent. They said, however, that the complainant may not have fully understood the difference between the permanent change to the cornea and their own subjective vision and perhaps this is where the confusion arose.

    The Executive reverted to the advertisers to inform them that they had not responded to the statement made by them on their website in relation to the permanency of the procedure. No further correspondence was received from the advertisers in the matter.

  • Complaint Upheld

    The Complaints Committee considered the details of the complaint and the advertisers’ response. They noted the advertisers’ explanation that while laser treatment involved a permanent change to the cornea, a patient’s refraction could change for various reasons. The Committee also noted however that in response to the question “is Laser vision correction permanent?” the answer was “Yes” and went on to say that studies indicated that ‘eyesight remained stable’. They therefore considered that most consumers would consider the claim in relation to permanency to mean that should they undergo laser vision correction procedures, their eyesight would remain the same and they would not need to undergo the process again.

    The Committee concluded, therefore, that the advertising was in breach of Sections 2.9, 2.22 and 2.24 of the Code.

    Action Required:
    The advertisement should not be used in its current format again.

Social Share

    Complaints Bulletins

    • Complaints Bulletins
      • 23/1
      • 22/4
      • 22/3
      • 22/2
      • 22/1
      • 21/5
      • 21/4
      • 21/3
      • 21/2
      • 21/1
      • 20/6
      • 20/5
      • 20/4
      • 20/3
      • 20/2
      • 20/1
      • 19/6
      • 19/5
      • 19/4
      • 19/3
      • 19/2
      • 19/1
      • 18/5
      • 18/4
      • 18/3
      • 18/2
      • 18/1
      • 17/5
      • 17/4
      • 17/3
      • 17/2
      • 17/1
      • 16/7
      • 16/6
      • 16/5
      • 16/4
      • 16/3
      • 16/2
      • 16/1
      • 15/6
      • 15/5
      • 15/4
      • 15/3
      • 15/2
      • 15/1
      • 14/8
      • 14/7
      • 14/6
      • 14/5

    Search:


    Filter by:

    Reset

    ©ASAI 2021 // 7 Herbert Street, Dublin 2, D02 K838 // Ph: (01) 6137040
    website by smudge design
    /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Complaint_Content_Type - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Complaint_Content_Type - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */
    This website uses cookies to improve your browsing and interactive experience. If you are happy to proceed with this, please click Accept

    If you wish read more about our cookie policy please Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT