Warning:Halloween eye wear can permanently damage your eyes

Decorative eye wear which are most popular during Halloween might damage your eyes, says American Optometric Association. So people are warned about the risk of wearing contact lenses without a prescription.These decorative eye wear can be easily found in flea markets, the internet and convenience stores so think before you buy.

People who buy and wear contact lenses without medical guidance and a valid prescription put themselves at risk for ocular inflammation, bacterial infection or mechanical damage to the eye, with the potential of irreversible loss of sight. A proper medical evaluation can determine whether or not patients are viable candidates to wear contact lenses and if they are capable of wearing contact lenses without problems.

“Buying contact lenses without a prescription involves serious health care risks because sellers may not be contact lens specialists,” said Louise Sclafani, O.D., chair of the AOA Contact Lens and Cornea Section. “After purchasing the decorative lenses, consumers often receive no formal education and instruction, which puts the responsibility to learn proper cleaning and disinfecting, as well as removal and application, on the consumer.”

“While consumer education is important, it is equally imperative to ensure that only people who are instructed in the proper use of contacts are able to sell them,” said Dr. Sclafani.

Federal law requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate decorative lenses as a medical device, similar to corrective lenses, making it illegal to dispense the lenses without a prescription.

“Consumers and retailers should understand that decorative lenses, like the contact lenses intended for correcting vision, present serious risks to eye health if they are distributed without the appropriate involvement of a qualified eye care professional,” added Dr. Sclafani.

Other risks associated with use of decorative contact lenses include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. Other problems may include reduction in visual acuity (sight). Contrast sensitivity and other general eye and vision impairments.