As you get ready for Halloween, keep in mind that professional eye care doesn’t happen at the Halloween store.
Those eye-catching cosmetic contact lenses may look like the perfect finishing touch for your costume, but they can put your long‑term eye health at serious risk. The California State Board of Optometry (CSBO) wants consumers to know that buying costume lenses over the counter, without a prescription, from an unlicensed source is illegal and dangerous.
According to the California Department of Public Health, non‑prescription decorative lenses can lead to:
- Itchiness or redness
- Eye pain
- Corneal scratches
- Corneal infections
- Poor vision
- Even blindness and eye loss
It’s tempting to elevate your costume with a pair of contact lenses, but if they didn’t come from a Board-licensed optometrist or optician, they’re not just illegal — they’re unsafe. The potential for permanent eye damage simply isn’t worth the risk, no matter how impressive the costume.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs licenses optometrists, ophthalmologists and contact lens dispensers, ensuring they meet minimum standards of practice and consumer safety. Before you purchase decorative lenses, make sure your provider is licensed and in good standing by visiting DCA’s License Search Page.
