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Thinking of adding cat eye contacts to your child's lion costume, or red eye contacts to their zombie get-up? Think again. Health experts from the American Optometric Association (AOA) are warning consumers that decorative Halloween contact lenses could cause long-lasting damage to your eyes, damage that could stay with you long after the trick-or-treating is done.

 

In a recent news release, Dr. Randall Fuerst, chairman of the AOA, noted “[t]here is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ contact lens.” A survey by the AOA found that 18 percent of Americans wear non-corrective, decorative or colored contact lenses. Of those, 28 percent said they bought the lenses without a prescription and from a source other than an eye doctor. Popular vendors for these types of contacts include convenience stores, gas stations, beauty salons and the Internet. Shouldn't it be a general rule of thumb that you don't stick anything in your eye that you bought at a gas station?

 

The AOA is warning consumers that decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye infections and possibly permanent vision loss.

 

So do yourself and your kids a favor and skip the gas station contacts for this year's costume.  

 

If you do decide to throw caution to the wind and use them, be sure to take them out immediately and contact your health care provider if you notice redness, pain or decreased vision after using any contact lenses.  

 

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