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Halloween Contact Lenses: Beware! – University of Utah Health Care

October 15th, 2020 9:01 pm

Oct 14, 2020 11:30 AM

Author: Moran Eye Center

An uninformed Halloween costume decision could haunt you for life. Were talking about disguising your eyes with freaky colored contact lenses without a prescription.

Before you go down that road, heres what you should know.

Did you know? Contact lenses of any type are medical devices that sit directly on the cornea (the clear dome of tissue over the iristhe part of the eye that gives you your eye color). Because of the risk of bacterial infections and other potential problems from poorly fitting or contaminated lenses, you should never buy any contact lenses without a valid prescription from a licensed eye care practitioner.

Its illegal to buy contact lenses without a prescription. Even if you dont need any vision correction, you still need a prescription for decorative lenses that will be a good fit.

Vendors who sell cosmetic or special-effect lenses as a type of accessory or jewelry without asking for a prescription are breaking the law and endangering your eyesight.

Cosmetic lenses need to fit correctly on your cornea; otherwise, they can be dangerous.

Any time you place something in your eye, you are risking infection, or injury, so as a general rule, I discourage the use of cosmetic lenses altogether. Even if a patient really wants them and is willing to get a proper fitting and accurate prescription, I am only OK with them being worn temporarily,saysDavid Meyer, OD, director of Contact Lens Services at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.

CheckFood and Drug Administration (FDA) websitewhere you can learn more and report the illegal selling of these lenses. They also warn against anime or circle lenses, saying, dont buy them and dont expect your doctor to prescribe them.

The FDA has not cleared these bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look.

Poor contact lens fit can cause severe eye damage, including:

According to the FDA, you shouldneverbuy lenses from:

If your eyes start burning or itching while wearing your lenses, take them out immediately, says Meyer. See your eye doctor if you notice any pain, blurry vision, or discharge. Causing damage to your eyes for the sake of a costume is much scarier than any Halloween fright.

The John A. Moran Eye Center is a world-class institution offering some of the best patient care in the country. It is a nationally ranked care center in the Mountain West centered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Originally posted here:
Halloween Contact Lenses: Beware! - University of Utah Health Care

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