Coloured contact lenses are a great way to spice up your style, if you can keep your eyes clean and can remember to take them out every night. Although they can really emphasize some of your features, not everyone can buy colored contacts. Most types of contacts require a prescription.

Although there is a type of colored contact lens that doesn’t require a prescription, known as plano, or ones that don’t significantly correct your vision, it is always best to consult an optometrist before radically changing your eyewear usage (read: if you haven’t ever worn lenses or glasses before).

It is also true that the law requires you to have a prescription, even if your lenses don’t have any vision correction and are purely cosmetic. The FDA has a warning that even plain contacts present a risk of eye injury and blindness if you fit or wear them improperly.

It will also help if you see the optometrist to find your new eye color. Only they can tell exactly how the lens should fit over your eye, and before you buy them in a novelty shop or online, it will help to try them out in the optometrist’s office.

Black out contact lenses
If you are looking for a way to make a dramatic statement, either in time for Halloween, another costume party, or simply looking to stand out in everyday life, blackout FX contact lenses may be the way to do it. These lenses completely cover the iris of your eye so that your pupil appears much larger, and can emphasize your eye without looking too different, but different enough that people will notice.

These types of lenses are most frequently used in horror movies for the effect they have on producing a vampire or a zombie, but can work great for your event as well. It is important when looking for these types of lenses to look for a reputable seller and to also check the seal on the contacts when you receive them to make sure it is not broken.

As with other color contacts, you may need to get a prescription, particularly if you are looking to get ones that correct your eye vision as opposed to being simply for cosmetic purposes. Due to the dual nature of these lenses, they don’t disable your sight in any way, and will simply make you look more serious or dreadful from afar, depending on what you are going for.

When wearing your cosmetic contact lenses, there are a millions things you’ll want to keep in mind.  Most of these issues should be discussed with your doctor.  Here is a great list of things you want to keep in mind this halloween when wearing your contact lenses.

BadDadRadio.com says, “Cosmetic contact lenses can be make your teens’ Halloween costume extra special. However, both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Optometric Association advise consulting an eye care professional first.”   This is great advice because contact lenses without a prescription are illegal in the United States for good reason, they’re dangerous and eye infections are no fun, especially cornea infections.

Google-Sina.com has an article talking about Ohio possibly banning the sale of cosmetic contact lenses.  This is bad news for optometrists who make their living with cosmetic contact lenses and also for Halloween costumes.  The article says, “Improper care and ill-fitting contact lenses may result in corneal ulcers and/or infections that can lead to blindness…”  Ouch!

While not a blog, the Federal Trade Commission warned 15 cosmetic lens marketers saying, “Under the FTC’s Contact Lens Rule, sellers of both corrective and non-corrective cosmetic contact lenses must have a copy of a valid contact lens prescription or verify it with the prescriber before dispensing contact lenses to consumers. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.”  Wow, $11,000 for selling colored contact lenses without a prescription.  That is huge when contact lenses only profit about $40 per eye for each sale.

MyDisguises.com talks about your doctor playing a vital part in setting up your Halloween costume.  Especially since you’ll need to see him to get a halloween contact lens set.  MyDisguises.com says, “If you’re going to play a classic role this Halloween, you’re going to have to consult an eye doctor as to whether costume contacts are right for you.”

That’s it for the cosmetic contact lens warnings.  Now go and have a safe and fun Halloween!

Ideal Health and Fitness has an article detailing how and why your contact lens could cause a corneal infection, one of the worst kinds and most difficult to treat.

IHF says the following, “Complications can arise through over use and over wearing along with sloppy hygiene and awkward fit. If you are using contacts for vision correcting purposes then you will have been to your doctor for analysis before getting a prescription to buy them.”

Complications are difficult to treat.  Make sure that your contacts come from a reputable source and are prescribed by your doctor.