Wearing decorative contact lenses for Halloween can be dangerous

Many kids across the nation are getting their Halloween outfits together.  This is a great time to remember the dangers of non-prescription decorative contact lenses, which have become a popular costume idea.  Unfortunately, wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription can lead to real-life nightmares, including permanent eye damage and vision loss, and the most common victims are teenagers and young adults.

“Believe me, I understand the allure of these contact lenses,” said Thomas Steinemann, M.D., who works in the division of Cornea and Eye Disease at MetroHealth Medical Center.  “They may look cool, but a teenager having to undergo a corneal transplant to save their sight is not cool.”

All contact lenses require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional.  Even if someone has perfect vision, they need to get an exam to make sure the contacts are properly fitted.  A federal law passed in 2005, classifying all contact lenses as medical devices, therefore requiring distribution to be made only by professionals.  Illegal sale of the lenses can result in penalties.

Wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription is scary.  Be safe this Halloween.