Decorative Halloween Contact Lenses Can Be Worn Even After LASIK or PRK If They Are Properly Fit, FDA Approved, and Carry a Prescription

Decorative contact lenses are often worn on Halloween to create effects such as glow in the dark lizard eyes, rave yellow eyes, or red twilight vampire eyes. It is important that these lenses be FDA approved, properly fit, and carry a prescription. Even after they have successfully undergone LASIK or PRK laser eye surgery and no longer need glasses or contact lenses, the question often comes up from my patients this time of year about using non-prescription “cosmetic” or decorative contact lenses for Halloween.

Decorative contact lenses can create spectacular Halloween effects such as glow in the dark lizard eyes, Avatar eyes, mad hatter eyes, colored contact lenses, zombie eyes, werewolf eyes, rave yellow contacts, black sclera eyes, red twilight contacts, or bloody vampire eyes. With proper fitting, prescription decorative lenses certainly can be used for Halloween. Unfortunately, however, many websites advertise and sell decorative contact lenses without prescriptions as if they were merely cosmetic items or toys. Many of these sites will claim that their decorative contact lenses are “one size fits all” or that there is “no need to see an eye specialist.” These claims, in fact, are false and decorative lenses obtained this way can pose significant risk to an unsuspecting user, even if they are only worn one day a year on Halloween. In fact, one study published in Acta Ophthalmalogica showed a sixteen fold increase in risk of potentially sight threatening bacterial corneal infections with the use of these lenses.

In wearing any contact lens, whether decorative or not, it is critical that the contact lens be fit to your individual eye by an eye care professional — either an ophthalmologist (Eye MD) or an optometrist. Like any contact lens, decorative lenses need to fit perfectly or they can rub and abrade the cornea and potentially create problems. Additionally, in 2005, a new US Federal law classified all contact lenses specifically as medical devices, meaning that only contact lenses approved by the FDA can be sold legally. Unfortunately, some decorative contact lenses are not approved by the FDA, such as the popular Circle Lenses. The Circle Lens appearance was popularized by Lady Gaga in her “Bad Romance” music video.

The improper sale and use of decorative contact lenses for Halloween is such a common problem that three weeks ago, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a press release outlining the potential dangers inherent in the use of these “cosmetic” contact lenses. The FDA also has released a webpage about the dangers of cosmetic Halloween contact lenses. The following are the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s guidelines for the safest use of decorative contact lenses for Halloween:

1) Get an eye exam from an eye care professional such as an ophthalmologist.

2) Obtain a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and expiration date.

3) Purchase the decorative contact lenses from a licensed eye care professional or an eye product retailer who asks for a prescription.

4) Follow the directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses.

5) Never share contact lenses with another person.

6) Get follow up exams by your eye care provider.

If these guidelines are followed, then you can optimize the safety of wearing “cosmetic” or decorative contact lenses this Halloween. And, yes, “cosmetic” or decorative contact lenses can be worn in this way even if you’ve already had LASIK or PRK and otherwise no longer need contacts or glasses!

Decorative Halloween Contact Lenses Can Be Worn Even After LASIK or PRK If They Are Properly Fit, FDA Approved, and Carry a Prescription

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