Halloween Contact Lenses: Risks to Your Eyesight

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With Halloween coming up on Monday, now is a popular time for people to make a costume even scarier with colored contacts. From cat eyes to glow in the dark lenses, colored contacts can create a spookier effect to your costume, but it comes with risks.

Recently,USA Today reported on a story about a teen who bought Halloween contact lenses meant to make her eyes look zombie-like, but instead the lenses damaged her cornea and partially blinded her right eye.

Here are several things to consider and tips to prevent damaging your eyes with Halloween contact lenses:

1. Never buy Halloween contact lenses without a prescription.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), it’s illegal to sell colored contacts without a prescription in the United States, and buying contacts requires a contact lens fit evaluation by an eye care professional.

2. Follow proper contact lens care guidelines, like washing your hands before handling contacts and keeping your contact lens case clean.

3. Do not share colored contacts with others.  Contacts are not meant to be shared – this can cause infections and spread germs easily.

Watch AAO’s video about proper care of Halloween contacts below.

If you notice irritation from wearing colored contact lenses like redness, swelling or pain, remove the contacts and schedule an appointment with one of our eye care professionals.

The doctors at Columbus Ophthalmology Associates have either authored or reviewed the content on this site.

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