These Halloween Lenses Can Cause Eye Infections.
Contact lenses with cat-eye pupils or neon colors may be fun, but are you sure you want to stick a piece of costume-store plastic in your eye? Experts, including those from the American Academy of Ophthalmology , warn against it. These over-the-counter lenses are technically illegal in the US (though many companies still sell them). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that risks include “eye ulcers and vision loss.”
Why contact lenses are often unsafe
Inexpensive Halloween contact lenses typically come in one-size-fits-all sizes, but the American Dental Association (AAO) notes that lenses should never be one-size-fits-all. Contact lenses that are too large or too small for your eye can cause corneal abrasions and ulcers, as well as infections such as keratitis. In severe cases, infections can lead to blindness . A 2017 FDA report found bacterial contamination in 27% of costume lenses.
If you wear contact lenses (on Halloween or otherwise), the American Ophthalmological Association (AAO) recommends paying attention to symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, or excessive discharge. Seek medical attention as soon as you suspect an infection. The eyes are more susceptible to infection than other parts of the body, so be careful.
How to find the suit’s safe contacts
By law, contact lenses require a prescription, so if the colored lenses you’re considering can be purchased without a prescription, they’re illegal. However, genuine lenses can be expensive: I found prices ranging from $40 to $110 per pair on lens.com , Discount Contacts , and Wicked Eyez .
All of these sites allow you to order online, but you’ll need to provide your prescription information before placing your order. Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission has ruled that healthcare providers are required to provide you with a contact lens prescription after you try it on so you can get it filled elsewhere. And they can’t charge you extra for doing so .
Once you receive your lenses, you need to know how to care for them. If you wear them every day, you already know how. But if you’re just choosing a pair for a dress, here are the basic rules:
-
Wash your hands before handling lenses.
-
Store them in contact lens solution and keep the lenses and lens case clean.
-
Do not sleep or swim with them.
-
And for heaven’s sake, don’t share them with your friends!
After all, the bloodshot look stops being cool once you take off the zombie costume.