In Focus

Halloween Hazard: The Hidden Dangers of Buying Decorative Contact Lenses Without a Prescription

It started as an impulsive buy from a souvenir shop, but 10 hours after she first put in a pair of decorative contact lenses, Laura Butler of Parkersburg, W.Va., had "extreme pain in both eyes," she said. "Because I had not been properly fitted by an eye care professional, the lenses stuck to my eye like a suction cup."

Halloween is a popular time for people to use decorative contact lenses or the latest fad, circle lenses, to enhance their costumes. However, given how easy it is to obtain theses products, it's becoming increasingly popular for people to purchase these novelty lenses all year-round — as Butler did.

But few know the risks associated with these lenses. "Most people believe that decorative lenses do not require the same level of care or consideration as a standard contact lens because they can be purchased over-the-counter or on the Internet," says Thomas Steinemann, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. "This is far from the truth."

There is no such thing as a "one size fits all" contact lens. Lenses that are not properly fitted may scratch the eye or cause blood vessels to grow into the cornea. In Butler's case, the lenses caused an infection and left her with a corneal abrasion from removing the lenses." I was in severe pain and on medication for four weeks and couldn't see well enough to drive for eight weeks," she said. "I now live with a corneal scar, vision damage and a drooping eyelid."

Dr. Steinemann said permanent eye damage can results from buying contacts without a prescription. "Many of the lenses found online or in beauty salons, novelty shops or in pop-up Halloween stores are not FDA-approved and are being sold illegally," he said. Websites often advertise decorative contacts as if they were cosmetics, fashion accessories or toys. With whimsical, playful packaging and names like Dolly Eyes, their targets are often teens and young adults. But the increasingly popular circle lenses, which are especially liked by teenage girls, are not FDA-approved.

Purchasing contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye-care professional such as an optician, optometrist or by an ophthalmologist – a medical eye doctor -- can cause serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to blindness. Even if you have perfect vision, you need to get an eye exam and a prescription from an eye-care professional in order to wear any kind of contact lens.

"All contact lens are medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional," said Dr. Steinemann. To protect the eyes, an eye-care professional measures each eye in order to properly fit contacts for the patient. Additionally, the eye-care professional instructs the patient on appropriate contact lens care. Lenses that are not cleaned and disinfected increase the risk of eye infection.

Not all patients are good candidates for contacts (prescription or decorative lenses). Patients who have frequent eye infections, severe allergies, dry eye that is resistant to treatment, a very dusty work environment or an inability to handle and care for the lenses may not be suitable candidates for contacts. An eye-care professional can help you make a decision that is right for you and your eyes.

Under a 2005 federal law, distribution of all contact lenses is restricted to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Consumers should only buy decorative contact lenses from an eye-care professional or a seller who asks for a prescription.

Related resources

Learn how to properly care for contact lenses.

Learn about the members of the eye-care team.

Consumer warning about the improper use of decorative contact lenses, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Are the decorative lenses you are considering buying approved by the FDA?

• Check the FDA's database of approved contact lenses.
• Buyer beware: review a list of unapproved lenses and websites selling them in the United States.