FTC Settles With Marketers of ‘Vision Improvement’ App After Deceptive Claims Charges

Marketers of a software app for mobile devices and PCs that claimed the Ultimeyes video game app would improve a user’s vision agreed to stop making deceptive claims about the app, in a settlement with the FTC, the agency said in a news release Thursday. Carrot Neurotechnology and co-owners “also agreed to disgorge $150,000,” the release said. Health-related apps can be beneficial, “but the FTC will not hesitate to act when health-related claims are not based on sound science,” said Consumer Protection Bureau Director Jessica Rich. Ads for the app, which cost between $5.99 and $9.99, said using the app would “Turn Back The Clock On Your Vision,” would improve vision for uses like sports, reading and driving, and would reduce a need for glasses and contact lenses, the release said. Ads claimed scientific research proved the success of the app, but failed to mention that the app's creator was among those who did the studies, it said. “If you’re looking for health-related apps -- or other products or services -- keep in mind that some companies may overstate claims in their advertising,” FTC Consumer Education Specialist Aditi Jhaveri wrote in a blog post on the settlement Thursday. The commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and accept the proposed consent order was unanimous, the release said. Comments are due Oct. 19, then the commission will decide whether to make the consent order final.