Many people wear decorative contact lenses with their Halloween costume in order to give the full impression of a warlock, goblin, or whatever creature one dresses up as on Halloween.
However, these decorative contact lenses are illegal unless bought with a prescription provided by a licensed eye doctor.
These decorative contact lenses also also called by such names as Halloween contact lenses, fashion contact lenses, cosmetic contact lenses, color contact lenses, and theatre contact lenses.
The American Optometic Association (AOA) states that nonprescription decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye infections and possibly even cause permanent vision loss.; that is, blindness.
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According to the U.S. News and World Report article Halloween Warning: Decorative Contact Lenses May Damage Your Eyes, "A 2012 American Optometric Association survey found that 18 percent of Americans wear noncorrective, decorative or colored contact lenses. Of those, 28 percent said they bought the lenses without a prescription and from a source other than an eye doctor."
These nonprescription contact lenses are available, although illegally, on the Internet, in some convenience stores, novelty stores, beauty salons, and other such places.
The U.S. News and World Report article concludes with, "A proper medical eye and vision examination ensures that contact lenses are suitable for a person, that the lenses are properly fitted and that the patient knows how to care for their contact lenses."
So, don't get tricked into compromising your health and eye sight just to look like a goblin at Halloween. It's definitely not worth the risk!
For additional information on decorative contact lenses, check out the U.S. Food and Drug Administration webpage Decorative Contact Lenses.
The FDA states, "Decorative contact lenses just change the look of your eyes. They do not correct your vision. They can temporarily change your brown eyes to blue or make your eyes look like cat eyes or vampire eyes for Halloween."
"Did you know that these decorative contact lenses are actually medical devices? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees their safety and effectiveness, just like regular contact lenses."
"Just like regular contact lenses you should never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store—and you should always have a prescription."
The risks of using illegal contact lenses, according to the FDA, are:
- A cut or scratch on the top layer of your eyeball (Corneal Abrasion)
- Allergic reactions like itchy, watery red eyes
- Decreased vision
- Infection
- Blindness
