Black sclera contact lenses are a strange contact lens that you must see to believe.  These black scleral contact lenses are called “full sclera” or “scleral”.  Both mean they cover the entire eye, including the white around the pupil that is normally not covered by a contact lens.  These colored contact lenses are not for the faint of heart!

Not only does this provide a very strange effect, they are also very expensive and instantly recognizable, especially in black.  While some manufacturers do make other colors of sclera contact lenses, the black scleral’s are by far the best selling and most popular full scleral covering contact lenses.

If you’ve never seen the full black sclera contact lenses I have a picture.  Keep in mind, that these sclera lenses are extremely expensive and difficult to get into your eye.  If you’ve never put contact lenses in your eyes before, these aren’t the best place to start.  These contact lenses are great for a Gothic Halloween costume.  Here are some black sclera contact lens pictures.

Very creepy!

While everyone knows that getting a deep cut and not cleaning and treating it can lead to infection, so can sharing contact lenses.  The difference is that you don’t need a deep cut to get an eye infection from a pair of cheap contact lenses.  Contacts often times, when shared, get tiny particles of dirt on them.  That dirt can’t be seen, but can scratch your eye.

Other contacts aren’t designed for your eye and can leave you with blurry vision and could cause you to fall down and get a cut and then get a normal infection.

The Capital Blog has a great article about Ohio stopping the selling of colored contact lenses.  Check it out.

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.