Halloween Contact Lenses-The Hidden Dangers

Federal agents are warning Colorado consumers ahead of Halloween about unsafe and potentially blinding counterfeit and unapproved decorative contact lenses. The FDA also stressed that contact lenses are not “one size fits all”, and buying them from any of the places listed could lead to risky consequences, including blindness.

In 2005, a federal law was passed making it illegal for anyone other than a licensed eye care professional to distribute them, but it’s still easy to find them online and in mall kiosks, flea markets and beauty salons. “If it can’t do that, then you can’t see, so if you have an opaque, gray, white cornea from an infection, then your vision is significantly affected”, he explained. The authors also noted that colorants printed or pressed onto a few decorative lenses create an uneven texture that could scratch the eyes.

Halloween stores around town told us that customers come in all the time asking for the decorative contact lenses, but you have to buy them online.

A recent study adds to their concerns, finding that several popular types contain chlorine and other chemicals that can harm the eyes. They are branded as “color, cosmetic, fashion, and theatrical” contact lenses, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). “I understand how tempting it is to dress up your eyes on Halloween without a prescription and using over-the-counter lenses, but people should not let one night of fun ruin their vision for a lifetime”. “Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye doctor for follow-up eye exams”. “And you could go in without a prescription and make a purchase”.

They can cause problems ranging from infection to decreasing the oxygen that gets to the eye.