This Halloween, make sure that you take care of your eyes. Decorative or costume contact lenses can be so much fun. They can make your eyes look different by changing their color and the shape of the pupil.  However, do not wear them without a prescription from your doctor.

Buying contact lenses from costume shops will probably end up hurting your eyes. This is because these contact lenses may not fit on your eyes. Contact lenses that do not have a proper fit can cause corneal scratches. All contact lenses require a prescription and proper fitting. This will reduce the danger of infections and complications that could lead to loss of vision.

Dangers of Decorative Lenses

Contact lenses are medical devices under the regulation of the U.S. government. This means that by law, decorative lenses require a prescription and proper fitting. It does not matter whether they correct vision or not. So whether you visit a doctor’s office or buy them online, make sure you have a valid prescription.

Other dangers of getting decorative lenses without prescription include:

• Lack of proper fitting.
• Corneal scratches.
• Lack of proper care.
• Infections.
• Toxicity.
• Other complications.

Lack of Proper Fitting

Contact lenses that do not fit properly are not only uncomfortable but also harmful. They can cause scratches on the outer layer of the eye. Without proper fitting, you will also not get proper education on how to take care of your contact lenses. All these may result in scratches on the cornea, infections, and even loss of vision.

Corneal Scratches

Getting contact lenses without a prescription means there is a high chance that they will not fit. Lenses that do not fit are likely to scratch your cornea. These scratches can cause sores and scarring. Although not all scars alter vision, those at the front of the eye will limit the focusing of light. This may lead to significant loss of vision.

Lack of Proper Care

As the doctor prescribes your contact lenses, they will educate you on how to take care of them. They will also teach you how to take care of your eyes. When you buy contact lenses from costume shops, you may not get the proper education. This may lead to eye infections that can be painful.

Infections

Bacterial infections like keratitis can be very painful. They can also cause sores and ulcers that may scar and alter the shape of the cornea. In addition, they can lead to complications that may cause poor or total loss of vision.

Toxicity

Decorative contact lenses have paints and pigments that add color to them. These paints may make the contact lenses thick and so less breathable. When contact lenses are not breathable, this means that oxygen does not circulate on your eyes. This could lead to dry eye and other allergic reactions.

Other possible causes of allergic reactions are the chemicals in the paints and pigments. Some researchers have found chlorine, titanium, and iron in decorative contact lenses. These are very harmful to the eyes.

Other Complications

You can suffer from severe recurrent complications from wearing decorative lenses. These recurrent complications can develop into diseases that limit your vision. Diseases like cataracts and glaucoma may require surgery to restore your vision.

For more information on keeping your eyes safe on Halloween, visit Inclima Eye Care at our office in West Haven, Connecticut. You can call (203) 694-0418 today to schedule an appointment.