A Warning About Costume Contacts

Halloween sales for costumes climb each year, with party goers and trick or treaters looking for the most authentic costumes.

One of the latest ways to complete the look, if you'll pardon the pun, is to don decorative contact lenses, including blood-drenched vampire eyes, glow-in-the-dark lizard lenses or maybe even the newest fad, circle lenses are all cool and trendy options.

However the American Academy of Ophthalmology is warning Halloween revelers about the sight-stealing consequences of purchasing decorative contacts from costume stores and other venues that are not licensed.

"Obtaining decorative lenses including colored contacts and novelty or costume lenses without a prescription is dangerous," the AAO explained in a release. "And circle lenses, which are becoming increasingly popular with teenage girls, are not FDA-approved. Websites often advertise decorative contacts as if they were cosmetics, fashion accessories or toys. With whimsical, playful packaging and names like Dolly Eyes, their targets are often teens and young adults."

This year, the AAO was joined by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO) to warn parents and teens that purchasing any contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from a licensed eye care professional such as  an ophthalmologist – an eye medical doctor - can cause serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to blindness.

While all contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional, even someone with perfect vision should consult an eye care professional in order to wear any kind of contacts, including cosmetic lenses.

"Most people believe that decorative lenses don’t require the same level of care or consideration as corrective contact lenses because they can be purchased over-the-counter or on the Internet. This is far from the truth,” said Thomas Steinemann, MD, professor of ophthalmology, MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “In fact, permanent eye damage can occur from using over-the-counter lenses. We want to discourage all consumers, especially teens, from buying contact lenses in beauty salons, novelty shops or in Halloween stores.”

The AAO also pointed out that a federal law was passed in 2005 that classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Consumers should only buy decorative contact lenses from an eye care professional or a seller who asks for a prescription.