Decorative contact lenses, also known as fashion, costume, or colored contact lenses, are a deceptively easy way to dramatically change your look. With one pop of a lens, you can turn into a white-eyed zombie or cat-like creature, make your normally brown eyes blue, or sport a big, doe-eyed look similar to that of a Japanese manga character. These lenses have grown in popularity and availability over the last decade, turning up everywhere from novelty shops to beauty salons. In reality, these lenses pose a serious risk to your eye health if not obtained and cared for properly.
Contacts Are Not Cosmetics
What most people don't realize about these lenses is that they are not mere accessories. All contact lenses—with or without vision correction—are considered medical devices and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As such, they require a prescription and a proper fitting by an eye care professional. They must be made of quality material that is up to standards. A retailer selling decorative contact lenses without requiring a prescription is breaking the law. According to the American Academy of Opthalmology, the retailer can actually be fined up to $11,000. This kind of federal oversight and regulation is to there to protect consumers from purchasing and wearing contacts of a size, strength, or material that could seriously damage their eyes and long-term vision. An ill-fitting decorative contact lens is more than just uncomfortable—it could scratch your cornea, cause tight lens syndrome, and deprive the cornea of essential nutrients and oxygen, as noted by the National Eye Institute.
According to the FDA, here are some of the risks of wearing unapproved, nonprescription decorative contact lenses:
- scratches on the cornea (abrasions)
- corneal ulcers
- painful bacterial infections such as keratitis
- conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- decreased/impaired vision
- blindness
Injuries like these can also require eye surgeries or even lead to permanent, irreversible vision loss.
The DOs and DON'Ts of Decorative Contact Lenses
If you are considering purchasing this type of novelty lens for Halloween, costume play (cosplay) events, or to change up your look, follow these guidelines to ensure that you're not putting your eye health at risk in the process:
DO see an eye care professional first for a full eye exam, even if you have perfect vision. EyeSmart notes that one size does NOT fit all when it comes to contacts. The doctor needs to evaluate your cornea shape and curvature, pupil, and iris size and see how a test lens sits on the surface of your eye. She also needs to determine if you're a good candidate for contact lenses in the first place; if you have dry and irritable eyes or are prone to infections, for example, wearing them even temporarily may be ill advised.
DO ask your eye doctor how to care for your contacts, especially if you're not already a regular contact lens wearer. Contacts that are left in for too long or that are not properly cleaned and disinfected can significantly increase the risk of an eye infection, so it's crucial to get proper care instructions for them before you wear them even once.
DO see a doctor immediately if you experience any redness, swelling, pain, or vision disturbances from using contact lenses.
DON'T buy decorative contact lenses from any website or retailer that doesn't require a prescription or sell FDA-approved lenses.
DON'T underestimate the risks of purchasing these types of lenses without a doctor's involvement; one night of unregulated wear could turn into a lifetime of vision problems.
For questions or comments, contact Woodhams Eye Clinic.
