The North Platte Telegraph

We've all heard that beauty comes at a price, but how high is too high? Eye specialists are warning against the latest trend to hit the United States-circle contact lenses.

In her "Bad Romance" video, shock queen Lady Gaga is seen sporting a large, doe-eyed look that's reminiscent of a Japanese anime character. Although media reports differ on whether Gaga was actually wearing circle contacts, or whether the effect was digitally created, the fact remains that the look is being copied and could be dangerous.

The effect is created by wearing lenses that extend beyond the iris, or colored part of the eye. Most of the contacts are created in Asia where they don't face Federal Drug Administration regulations. The increased interest in the lenses has prompted the American Optometric Association to issue a statement regarding them. The statement says the AOA is working to inform consumers about the risk of the illegal lenses.

"We found that FDA officials were shocked, as well as dismayed, by how easy these lenses can be obtained and how aggressively adolescents and young adults are targeted," president of the AOA and doctor of optometry Joe Ellis said in the statement.

Complete Eyecare Associates contact lens technician Kelly Travis says the cosmetic contacts are easily accessible on the Internet.

CATHOLICS are outraged after discovering rosary beads - sacred objects used in prayer - are being flaunted as a new fashion statement.

The string of beads with a crucifix are now as likely to be found in some jewellery stores as they are in a church, with fashion franchise Diva selling three styles of a rosary necklace with a silver cross pendant for $14.99 each.

Catholic Women's League Australia national president Madge Fahy said it was inappropriate for teenagers to wear the rosary as jewellery.

"It is totally disrespectful to the religious beliefs of Catholics," she said.

"I believe it's an abuse of our religious object.

"Rosary beads are solely used for prayer. They are not a fashion item."

A spokesman for the Adelaide Archdiocese said wearing rosary beads and crucifixes purely as fashion accessories could trivialise their religious significance.

"It might be too much to expect that those wearing these items as fashion statements might consider their deeper meaning, but one could be outrageously optimistic," he said.

However, he said the church hoped fashion wearers might have a spiritual awakening as a result of wearing the beads.