{"id":57305,"date":"2018-12-03T06:08:55","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T06:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=57305"},"modified":"2021-04-04T15:55:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T15:55:40","slug":"colored-contacts-halloween-contacts-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=57305","title":{"rendered":"Are Colored Contacts & Halloween Contacts SAFE?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Costume contact lenses \u2013 also known as cosmetic or Halloween contacts<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u2013 are\u00a0contact lenses\u00a0that change how your eyes look. These contact lenses can make your eyes look different in many ways, from changing your eye\u2019s color or pupil shape to giving cartoon or film character effects. Common examples are blackout contacts, black\u00a0sclera contact lenses, cat eyes and zombie eye contacts. They can be made with or without vision correction.<\/p>\n

In the United States it’s illegal to sell any contact lenses without a prescription from an eye care professional. Wearing contacts without an exam and prescription from a doctor can blind you. Packaging that claims ‘one size fits all’ or ‘no need to see an eye doctor’ is wrong.<\/p>\n

Colored contacts, circle lenses, sclera contacts and other costume contact lenses may be advertised like toys. They might seem like a no-fuss way to add something extra to a costume. But contact lenses are medical devices. Costume contacts for Halloween or any time of year can be worn safely \u2013\u00a0if<\/em>\u00a0you see a doctor first and follow their advice.<\/p>\n

What damage can costume contact lenses cause?<\/h2>\n

Non-prescription costume contacts can cut, scratch and infect your eye if they don’t fit exactly right. Mis-sized lenses can cause\u00a0corneal abrasions,\u00a0corneal ulcers\u00a0and potentially blinding painful bacterial infections like\u00a0keratitis. Costume or theatrical contact lenses also might let less oxygen through to the eye, because the paints and pigments used to add color make the lenses thicker and less breathable.<\/p>\n

Treating these injuries can require eye surgery, like a\u00a0corneal transplant. And treatment doesn\u2019t always work. People have been\u00a0blinded by costume contact lenses.<\/p>\n

If you want to use theatrical contact lenses for a costume or to change your eye color more subtly, you have to get a prescription from an eye care professional. Your individual prescription can only be determined by an\u00a0eye exam.<\/p>\n

“Consumers need to know that permanent eye damage can occur from using non-prescription lenses,” says Thomas Steinemann, MD, a practicing ophthalmologist and professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University. “Personally, I have seen far too many serious cases in both children and adults from using decorative lenses.”<\/p>\n

Are costume contact lenses safe if you have a prescription?<\/h2>\n

Contact lenses are medical devices that require a commitment to proper wear and care by the wearer. When people use contact lenses of any kind, it is important that they understand the risks.<\/p>\n

Even under the best supervision, injury and infections can occur with any contact lenses. After you have been to an ophthalmologist and received a prescription, be sure to only buy costume contacts from retailers who require a prescription to purchase the lenses and who only sell FDA-approved contact lenses.<\/p>\n

What is an eye exam for costume contacts like?<\/h2>\n

During the eye exam, your eye care professional \u2013 such as an\u00a0ophthalmologist or optometrist\u00a0\u2013 will:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Measure your eyes in order to properly fit the contacts.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Assess whether or not you are a good candidate for contacts in general.<\/strong>People who have frequent eye infections, severe allergies, dry eye, frequent exposure to dust or smoke or an inability to handle and care for the lenses may not be suitable candidates for even regular corrective contacts.<\/li>\n
  • Instruct you on appropriate\u00a0<\/strong>contact lens care.<\/strong>\u00a0Lenses that are not cleaned and disinfected increase the risk of eye infection.<\/li>\n
  • Tell you how long you can wear the costume contacts.<\/strong>\u00a0For instance, you should never sleep in any contact lenses that aren\u2019t designed for overnight wear. The designs painted on some costume contacts can also make the lenses thicker and harder for oxygen to get through to the eye. It’s important to consult with an ophthalmologist or optometrist to ensure your eyes can handle these types of lenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How many people are injured by costume contact lenses?<\/h2>\n

    There are no comprehensive studies of how many injuries costume contact lenses cause. However, we hear anecdotally from ophthalmologists that they see contact-related injuries each year despite FDA regulations. In addition, a 2010 study published in the journal\u00a0Pediatrics<\/em>\u00a0indicated that at least 13,500 emergency room cases each year are due to contact lens injuries in children and teens.<\/p>\n

    Why are stores and online retailers selling costume contact lenses without a prescription if it’s not safe?<\/h2>\n

    These retailers are breaking the law. In the U.S., it has been illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription since 2005.\u00a0Federal law classifies all contact lenses as medical devices and restricts their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. Illegal sale of contact lenses can result in civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation. If you see contact lenses being sold by retailers not requiring a prescription, you can\u00a0report the retailer to the FDA.<\/p>\n

    Illegally sold circle lenses bypass several crucial safeguards, such as a lens fitting and instructions about wear and care that are specific to you, your eyes and the contacts you are prescribed. Dr. Steinemann also warns that counterfeit lenses are common if you\u2019re buying through an illegal outlet. Some illegal lenses have even been found to be re-packaged and can be contaminated with chemicals or germs when you receive them.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re buying lenses that haven\u2019t been FDA-approved or you\u2019re buying through a dealer who isn\u2019t regulated by the FDA, you can\u2019t be sure of anything you\u2019re receiving. The lenses you get may not be what you ordered, they may not be clean or correctly packaged and they may not be the right size or shape for your eye to begin with. The risks aren\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n\n

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    Costume contact lenses \u2013 also known as cosmetic or Halloween contacts\u2013 are\u00a0contact lenses\u00a0that change how your eyes look. These contact lenses can make your eyes look different in many ways, from changing your eye\u2019s color or pupil shape to giving cartoon or film character effects. Common examples are blackout contacts, black\u00a0sclera contact lenses, cat eyes …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[3383,25],"yoast_head":"\nAre Colored Contacts & Halloween Contacts SAFE? - TheFastFashion.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=57305\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are Colored Contacts & Halloween Contacts SAFE? - TheFastFashion.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Costume contact lenses \u2013 also known as cosmetic or Halloween contacts\u2013 are\u00a0contact lenses\u00a0that change how your eyes look. 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