Use Decorative Halloween Contact Lenses with Caution

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center advises patients to use decorative cosmetic contact lenses for Halloween with caution as the Food and Drug Administration, regulates all contact lenses as medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional. Even someone with perfect vision would still require an eye exam and a prescription in order to wear any kind of contacts, including decorative cosmetic lenses for Halloween.

Beware Buying Halloween Decorative Contact Lenses

Some websites advertise decorative contacts as if they were fashion accessories or toys with fanciful, playful packaging in order to attract teens and young adults, especially girls. The problem is not that people use decorative, non corrective contact lenses, but that they buy the devices without a prescription through unlicensed vendors on the Internet or at flea markets and specialty shops.

Eye Health Problems with Halloween Decorative Contact Lenses

The eye health problems one can experience with cosmetic decorative contact lenses purchased over-the-counter contact lenses create a huge risk including corneal abrasions, “pink eye” conjunctivitis and even more serious types of corneal infection such as infectious keratitis with a corneal ulcer that can result in profound vision loss.

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye  problems from becoming a reality. If you or a friend would like to learn more about contact lenses of any type including decorative cosmetic contacts please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser to schedule an appointment.

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 522 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.