Bethlehem University
E-Clinic
Issue
May 2014
Decorative Contact Lenses
Decorative contact lenses just change the look of your eyes. They do not correct your vision. They can
temporarily change your brown eyes to blue or make your eyes look like cat eyes or vampire eyes for
Halloween.
Did you know that these decorative contact lenses are actually medical devices? The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration oversees their safety and effectiveness, just like regular contact lenses.
Just like regular contact lenses you should never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty
supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store and you should always have a prescription.
Before stepping out with your new look, here's what you need to know.
Know the Risks
Wearing decorative contact lenses can be risky, just like the contact lenses that correct your vision.
Wearing any kind of contact lenses, including decorative ones, can cause serious damage to your eyes if
the lenses are not used correctly.
These risks include:
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A cut or scratch on the top layer of your eyeball (Corneal Abrasion)
Allergic reactions like itchy, watery red eyes
Decreased vision
Infection
Blindness
When wearing any type of contact lenses, be aware of signs of possible eye infection, which include:
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Redness
Pain in the eye(s) that doesn't go away after a short period of time
Decreased vision
If you have any of these signs, you need to see a licensed eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist)
right away! An eye infection could become serious and cause you to become blind if it is not treated.
You can avoid some of these risks by getting any type of contact lenses from your doctor. Be sure to
follow the directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses that your doctor gives you. If your
doctor doesn't give you any directions — ask for them!
Dos and Don'ts
Do get an eye exam! A licensed eye doctor will examine your eyes to make sure the contact lenses fit
properly. The fit of your contact lenses is very important. A wrong fit can cause damage to your eyes. Be
sure to always go for follow-up eye exams.
Do get a prescription! Your eye doctor will write you a prescription for all contact lenses, including
decorative lenses. The prescription should include the brand name, correct lens measurements and
expiration date.
Do follow the contact lens care instructions! Follow the instructions for wearing, cleaning and
disinfecting your contact lenses that come with your contact lenses. If you do not receive instructions,
ask an eye doctor for them.
Do seek medical attention right away and remove your contact lenses if your eyes are red, have
ongoing pain or discharge! Redness, pain and discharge from the eyes are signs of an eye infection. If
you think you have an eye infection from your contact lenses, remove them and see an eye doctor right
away.
Don't share your contact lenses with anyone else! You wouldn't share your toothbrush would you?
All eyes are not the same size and shape and your contact lenses are fitted just for you.
Don't buy any contact lenses without a prescription! If you don't see an eye doctor and get a
prescription, then the contact lenses you get may not fit properly and may not work well. They could
even damage your eyes. Sometimes wearing contact lenses can damage the top layer of your eyeball
(cornea). Even if you aren't having any problems now, the lenses still could be causing damage to your
eyes. By having regular checkups and buying contact lenses with a prescription, you will reduce the
chances of any undetected damage to your eyes.
http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/homehealthandconsumer/consumerp
roducts/contactlenses/ucm270953.htm
Image taken from www.ophthalmologymanagement.com
This is a case of Pseudomonas Keratitis, a severe infection of the cornea (the clear dome on top of the
colored part of your eye), secondary to inappropriate, unmonitored contact lens wear. Less severe
complications include corneal scarring, new blood vessels growing into the cornea (see image below),
smaller corneal ulcers, and inflammatory ocular responses from sleeping in lenses.
New blood vessels growing into the cornea- sadly, virtually all long term regular wearers of colored
contacts will have this to some degree.
http://myfunnyvalentineblog.com/2012/11/your-friendly-blogging-optometrist-dangers-of-cosmetic-colouredcontact-lenses.html