Never buy costume contact lenses from the store – it’s not worth the risk of permanent vision loss for one night. If you want to wear coloured lenses, get them from a Doctor of Optometry!
Global News; Why you shouldn’t wear coloured contact lenses this Halloween (or ever)
The doctor is in! Here to check your eyes….. and EAT YOUR BRAAAAAAAINS đš
Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween! 
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The number-one thing to AVOID this year when planning your costume is decorative contact lenses! Those over-the-counter costume lenses are NOT safe and it’s not worth the potential lifelong damage to your eyes. Be safe when using any contact lenses!
Excerpt from What not to wear: 4 costume items to avoid this Halloween (from CTV News, click for full article):
Halloween is a fun and festive time for adults and children alike, but itâs best to get into the spirit safely. Here are four costume accessories to avoid if you donât want Halloween to come back and haunt you:
Decorative contact lenses
For some Halloween enthusiasts, no demon or alien costume is complete without lenses that change the colour of their eyes.
Despite the popularity of decorative contact lenses, they are considered medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and, as of last July, Health Canada.
The FDA says decorative contact lenses should never be an over-the-counter purchase.
Decorative or not, a poorly fitted contact lens can cause serious eye damage, including scratches on the cornea, corneal infection, pink eye (conjunctivitis) and decreased vision or blindness.
If decorative contact lenses are a must this Halloween, the FDA recommends visiting your eye doctor to obtain a valid prescription that includes a brand name lens with proper measurements and an expiration date. You should also follow all directions for cleaning and disinfecting the lenses before use. Another visit to the eye doctor is even recommended for follow-up eye exams.
Halloween is just around the corner, and while a crazy pair of contacts might seem like the perfect addition to your costume, DO NOT buy unprescribed lenses from over-the-counter or online sellers. Anyone who is not an optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist selling contact lenses is doing so illegally. This also applies to circle lenses or any coloured lenses you can buy randomly at non-optical stores at the mall or online. Many websites claim to sell “100% authentic” and “#1 brand” lenses, but this is not safe.
Contact lenses are medical devices, which means they are subject to specific safety requirements. Online and over-the-counter products are produced by unknown manufacturers, who don’t follow the requirements. Contact lenses are NOT one-size-fits-all, and just like wearing the wrong shoe size, ill-fitting contacts can cause major discomfort and damage to your eyes.
The main concern is that these manufacturers may use unknown materials to make the lenses, and the sealed packaging does NOT guarantee that the lenses are sterile. Contaminants may scratch your cornea, cause an allergic reaction, or cause a serious infection which may result in permanent scarring and vision loss.
The risk of corneal infection when using cosmetic lenses compared to prescription contacts lenses is 12.5 times higher, as shown in a recent study
âIn the past year we have received numerous incident reports from optometrists who have treated patients with serious cases of infection, corneal ulcers, corneal abrasion, allergic reactions and swelling resulting from novelty contact lenses,â said Dr. Paul Geneau, CAO president.
Read more here: Cosmetic contact lenses may cause blindness, warn doctors
You may think it’s not a big deal if you wear them for just one night…. Lots of people have prescribed contact lenses from their doctor for occasional wear! However, the risk is MUCH, MUCH higher with unprescribed lenses because 1) those lenses have not been approved for safety and 2) you have not been fitted with by a licensed professional.
In this 5 On Your Side clip, Robyn Rouse talks about wearing decorative lenses for a short period of time. “I put them in – wore them for 5 minutes… Took them out and went to sleep,â recalled Rouse. âIn less than 24 hours – this is something that I have to deal with now for the rest of my life,” she added. Robyn developed an eye infection, which, after 10 years of eye problems, resulted in her having to get a corneal transplant.
There are good options out there for coloured lenses approved by Health Canada! You need to be fitted, even if you want non-prescription “strength” in the lenses. Make an appointment with Dr. Lee and let the staff know you are interested in coloured lenses so we can order in some trials to have ready at your next visit.
If you notice redness, swelling, excessive discharge, pain or discomfort from wearing contact lenses, remove the lenses and seek immediate medical attention from an optometrist. Eye infections like keratitis can quickly become serious and can cause blindness if left untreated.
Dr. Lee can be reached in Markham at (905) 805-0889 or in Pickering (905) 420-7070