State warns wearing costume contact lenses could cause serious problems

A special warning is going out as many get ready to put on Halloween costumes. California state health managers said those popular and trendy decorative contact lenses can be dangerous.

Public Health Director Dr. Ron Chapman said the only way to safely wear costume contact lenses is to be fitted for them by an eye doctor. Chapman issued a statement in October stating buying them online or in a costume store is far too risky.

“Your vision does seem a little bit blurry, but they’re OK,” said Arieanne Gonzalez, who said she’s worn costume lenses before.

Gonzalez’s experience with costume lenses doesn’t sound that scary. But the repercussions could be much worse. Health officials said you could deal with more serious problems without getting proper help from an eye doctor. Romie Lane Optometric Center said every year, people come in after Halloween, with issues after wearing costume lenses.

“Packaged in non-sterile types of solutions, so people can have allergic reactions to the solutions, they can cause things like corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis,” said Dispensing Optician Cynthia Staub, CPOA.

Staub said wearing a contact lens that hasn’t been properly fitted to your eye, can cause permanent damage. In other words, they’re not one size fits all. Eye centers said even the length of time the lenses are in your eye can be an issue.

“For your first time, maybe on Halloween night if you want to wear a contact for six or eight, ten hours, over wearing reduces the oxygen flow to your eye,” Staub said.

The only lenses currently approved by the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act are those obtained by a prescription. Health officials warn the risks include infection, blindness and worst case scenario losing an eye. Eye doctors also said they hear some frightening stories from kids.

“One child has a pair of contacts that is prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist and they loan them out to friends and then they’re passing diseases back and forth,” Staub said.

The FDA said if you choose to wear costume lenses and notice signs of infection, it should be treated within 24 hours to avoid any complications.