Optometrists and opticians don’t work at the Halloween store.
That’s what you should keep in mind this Halloween holiday season.
As alluring as the dazzling designs of a cosmetic contact lens may appear, they are not worth the potential long-term damage to your eye if they aren’t dispensed professionally. The California State Board of Optometry wants you to be aware that costume lenses purchased over the counter without a prescription from an unlicensed source are illegal and may harm your eyes or eyesight.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the potential risks associated with non-prescription, decorative lenses include:
- Corneal abrasions (a cut or scratch to the top layer of your eyeball)
- Corneal ulcers
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Allergic reactions like itchy, watery red eyes
- Infection
- Decreased vision
- Blindness
Halloween lovers may want to enhance their costume with cool contacts. But if your pair of contact lenses didn’t come from a licensed-Board optometrist or optician, they aren’t just illegal, they’re unsafe and can cause irreparable damage to your vision. And there’s no costume worth paying that price for.
To verify the license of an optometrist or contact lens dispenser, licensed by the California State Board of Optometry, or an ophthalmologist licensed by the Medical Board of California, visit DCA’s License Search Page.
