Are Colored Contacts Safe? What to Know Before Halloween

Costume contacts are one of the most popular Halloween add-ons, especially with teens. Most people buy them from costume shops or online stores that sell them like any other accessory, without asking for a prescription.

Those lenses still sit directly on your eye and carry the same risks as any other contact lens. Here’s what to know before adding them to your costume.

When Colored Contacts Are Safe

They can be, when an eye doctor prescribes and fits them. The FDA regulates all contact lenses as medical devices, including decorative lenses that don’t correct vision. That means you need a valid prescription to buy them, even if your eyesight is perfect.

Why One Size Fits All Colored Contacts Are Risky

Every eye has its own size and curve. A lens that’s too tight or too loose can rub against the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, and cause scratches that let bacteria in. Lenses sold without a prescription skip the fitting entirely, and there’s no way to know how they were made or stored.

Problems linked to decorative lenses include:

• Corneal scratches, which are painful and make infection more likely
• Eye infections, including keratitis, a serious infection of the cornea
• Allergic reactions to the lens material or solution
• Scarring that can permanently affect vision, and in rare cases blindness

Where Not to Buy Costume Contacts

The FDA warns against buying contacts from Halloween and novelty stores, beauty supply shops, flea markets, street vendors and any website that doesn’t ask for your prescription. A legitimate seller will verify your prescription with your eye doctor before your order ships.

How to Wear Decorative Contacts Safely

Once you have a prescribed pair, a few habits go a long way:

• Wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses
• Clean and store them only in fresh contact solution, never tap water
• Take them out before bed, even after a late night
• Don’t share lenses with friends
• Remove them right away if your eyes feel scratchy, dry or irritated

Signs of an Eye Problem After Wearing Costume Contacts

Take your lenses out and call an eye doctor if you notice redness that won’t go away, eye pain after the lens is out, blurry vision, discharge or sensitivity to light. These can point to an infection or a corneal injury, and early treatment makes a big difference.

Tips for Parents of Teens About Colored Contacts

Teens are the most likely to borrow a pair from a friend or order some online without mentioning it. A quick conversation before Halloween helps, along with an exam so the decision gets made with a doctor. Our pediatric eye care team works with kids and teens every day and can talk through whether contacts are a good fit.

Why Choose Johns Creek Eyecare for Contact Lens Exams

Johns Creek Eyecare carries contact lenses from CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson Vistakon, Alcon and Bausch + Lomb, and our doctors take the time to match the right lens to your eyes and routine. They’re also certified in the treatment and management of ocular disease, so if your eyes feel off after a costume party, you’re in good hands. The Johns Creek and Duluth community has voted us Best Eye Care two years running.

For anyone still deciding between frames and lenses for everyday wear, our guide to contacts vs. glasses can help.

Schedule a Contact Lens Exam at Johns Creek Eyecare in Johns Creek, GA

If colored contacts are part of your Halloween plans, book your exam a few weeks ahead so there’s time for a proper fit. Schedule an appointment with Johns Creek Eyecare today.