Are you thinking of adding a little something extra to your costume this Halloween? Colored contacts – available in red, white, cat eye, and probably any color you can think of – are a fun way to perfect your look. However, be sure you’re properly using colored contacts; if you choose a pair that isn’t safe for your eyes, there could be dire consequences.
Colored contact lenses should always be obtained through a prescription. Though the lenses may be what eye doctors call “plano” (non-corrective) lenses, they still need to be the right shape for your eye. Prescription colored contacts are the only safe colored contacts.
Decorative and Colored Lenses Always Need a Prescription
Buying colored contacts isn’t like buying a pair of sunglasses. The impact of a cheap pair of colored contacts can be immediate and dangerous. Contact lenses that are not properly fit to the eye can cause corneal scratching, corneal abrasions, and corneal ulcers.
Any swelling or inflammation on the cornea is called “keratitis.” If keratitis develops, it can be as simple as a scratch or as complex as parasitic or bacterial infection. These can lead to blindness, so you should always take your contact lenses very seriously.
Play It Safe with Colored Contacts
There are a variety of colored contact lens types. Some contact lenses have a visibility tint; this allows the wearer to see the lens better when inserting and removing. It doesn’t impact eye color. Prescription colored contacts or decorative contact lenses change your eye color but do not correct your vision. Nonetheless, they still require a prescription.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) states, “Even though they do not correct vision, you need a prescription for decorative contacts. To avoid getting dangerous eye infections, these lenses must be treated like prescription contacts. This means cleaning them regularly and thoroughly as directed.”
The AAO offers the following tips to use colored contact lenses safely:
- Follow the schedule your eye doctor gives you for wearing and replacing your lenses. You should not sleep in daily-wear lenses.
- Remove contact lenses before taking a shower, using a hot tub, swimming, or doing anything where water gets in your eyes.
- Before touching your contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel.
- Never put contacts in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
- Do not rinse or store contacts in tap or sterile water, and never use a homemade saline solution.
- Do not use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect your lenses. They are not disinfectants.
- No matter what type of lens-cleaning solution you buy, use a “rub and rinse” cleaning method. Rub your contact lenses with clean fingers, then rinse the lenses with solution before soaking them. Use this method even if the solution you are using is a “no-rub” type.
- Rinse your contact lens case with sterile contact lens solution (not tap water), then leave the empty case open to air dry. Keep your contact lens case clean and replace the case at least every 3 months.
For more information on having a safe and fun Halloween, check out these blogs:
- Halloween Mocktails for a Healthy Halloween Party
- Leftover Candy Conundrum: What to Do with Extra Halloween Candy
