Why Halloween Lenses Are Not Toys
Once October comes, lenses that change the colour of your eyes turn up in costume shops and online stores.
Cat eyes, white eyes, red eyes. They are cheap, and you will only wear them for one night, so they seem fine.
But these lenses are not props. They are lenses that touch your eye directly.
The US FDA's guidance is clear
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that it regulates decorative lenses as medical devices. According to the guidance, every contact lens, including decorative lenses that do not correct vision, must be prescribed by a doctor, and lenses sold without a prescription are illegal.
The FDA lists these as problems that decorative lenses bought without a prescription can cause.
- A scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion)
- Allergic reactions
- Decreased vision
- Infection
- Blindness
It says the signs of infection are redness, ongoing eye pain and discharge.
Where not to buy them
The FDA says plainly not to buy contact lenses from street vendors, beauty supply stores, flea markets, novelty shops or Halloween stores. They may be contaminated or counterfeit. Places that sell without a prescription include the internet, physical shops and salons, and it says this is especially common around Halloween.
Four things to check before you buy
Following the order set out by the FDA, it goes like this.
- Get an eye exam. Whether a lens fits your eye can only be known through an exam.
- Get a prescription. The prescription includes the brand, the lens measurements and the expiration date.
- Buy from a seller that verifies prescriptions. Choose a place that asks for your prescription and sells FDA-approved products.
- Follow the care instructions. Follow the instructions that come with the lenses, and seek care straight away if you have redness, pain or discharge.
This is a US standard
This guidance is US regulation. Rules on decorative lenses differ from country to country. The same lens is treated as a prescription medical device in the United States; how it is treated in another country has to be checked separately against that country's rules.
But some things do not change wherever you buy. A lens touches the cornea, and a lens that does not fit your eye or is contaminated can be dangerous.
Why a coloured lens with 0.00 power counts as a medical device is covered in Why Are 0.00-Power Colored Contacts Still Medical Devices—and Why Does America Require a Prescription?. Cases of people who slept in their lenses are in It Was Only a Nap: Six People Who Slept in Their Contact Lenses.
What to check the night before a party
- If you already have lenses, check whether you bought them with a prescription and where they came from.
- Always take them out before you sleep. It is hardest to keep to on nights when the party ends late.
- If your eye hurts or turns red, take the lenses out, and even if it seems to get better, have it checked.
- Do not swap lenses with other people.
There is no reason to risk your eyes for one night's costume. A costume can be done without lenses.
References
- US FDA, Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween and More
- US FDA, Halloween Safety Tips: Costumes, Candy, and Colored Contact Lenses
This article is general information based on public guidance from the US FDA. Follow the rules of your country and the examination of a professional regarding the type of lens and wearing it.