Are Decorative Contact Lenses Bad for Your Eyes?

It's spooky season and for some people, that means dressing up in fun costumes and eating sweet treats. If you're planning to go all out with your costume this year, there are some things you should know before you decide to wear decorative contact lenses.

It might seem like a fun Halloween trend to try, but according to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), all contact lenses need to be prescribed by an eye doctor. Yes, that means the Halloween contacts, too. Contact lenses are a medical device. They need to be properly fit by an eye doctor and made of materials that are safe for the eyes.

The FDA warns against buying any contact lenses from Halloween, beauty supply or novelty stores. Sales without a verified prescription are illegal, and the use of unregulated lenses puts the wearer at greater risk of serious damage to their eyes including allergic reactions, infection, corneal abrasions and scarring and, in some cases, blindness.

See Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween and More by the FDA for more information.