Four frightening ways costume contact lenses can ruin vision

To avoid a real-life Halloween horror story - going blind because of a costume accessory - the Delaware Academy of Ophthalmology, along with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is warning the public against wearing costume contact lenses purchased without a prescription. These illegally sold cosmetic lenses may not be sterile and can cause a host of serious eye problems capable of morphing a fun Halloween night into a nightmare.

Tiger eyes, checkered pupils: nonprescription decorative lenses (also called cosmetic, costume or plano contact lenses) come in many different patterns and colors. In 2005, after reports of them causing eye injuries and infections, the federal Food and Drug Administration classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals, effectively banning sales of non-prescription contact lenses. Despite that, these items remain available on the internet, in convenience stores and at flea markets.

Non-prescription decorative lenses can hurt eyes in several ways: scratches or corneal abrasions, eye sores called corneal ulcers which can scar over and permanently affect vision, infections known as keratitis, and blindness.

More