Key Takeaways
- Costume contacts are considered medical devices, even when they don’t correct vision.
- Getting costume lenses properly fitted and prescribed by an eye doctor helps protect your eye health.
- Selling costume contact lenses without a prescription is illegal in the U.S.
- Poorly fitted lenses can scratch the cornea or lead to eye infections.
- Redness, pain, and blurry vision are signs to remove your lenses and contact your eye doctor.
Your costume is ready, the party is on the calendar, and a pair of glowing red eyes would finish the look. Before you add them, it’s important to know how to wear decorative contact lenses safely. Littlefield Eye Associates has been helping Kansas City families care for their eyes since 1909, and questions about costume contacts come up every fall.
Costume contacts can be worn safely when they’re properly fitted and prescribed by an eye doctor, but lenses sold without a prescription can put your eye health at risk. If you’d like to complete your Halloween look safely, you can schedule a contact lens fitting and eye exam in Kansas City, MO, with our team.
What Are Costume Contact Lenses?
Costume contacts are decorative lenses often worn for Halloween, cosplay, costumes, and parties. You might hear them called Halloween contacts, cosplay lenses, decorative lenses, or colored contacts.
What many people don’t realize is that these lenses are considered medical devices, even when they don’t change or correct your vision.
Are Costume Contacts Safe to Wear?
Prescription Lenses
An eye doctor can measure your eyes and prescribe costume contact lenses that fit properly. You still need a prescription even if you have clear vision and don’t normally wear corrective lenses. Depending on the options available, decorative lenses can give you the dramatic look you’re after without skipping the proper fitting process.
Lenses Sold Without a Prescription
Selling costume contact lenses without a prescription is illegal in the U.S. Contact lenses aren’t one-size-fits-all, and a lens that doesn’t fit properly can cause problems for your eyes.
That bargain pair might complete your costume, but protecting your eye health is worth the extra step of getting properly fitted lenses.
What Are the Risks of Poorly Fitted Lenses?
A lens that doesn’t fit your eye properly can rub against the surface as you blink. Over an evening of dancing, trick-or-treating, or taking photos, that irritation can add up. Possible problems include:
- Scratches on the cornea
- Eye infections and pink eye
- Allergic reactions
- Changes in or loss of vision
Signs Your Eyes Need Attention
Pay attention to how your eyes feel while you’re wearing the lenses and afterward. Watch for these signs:
- Redness, pain, or discharge
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
If you notice any of these symptoms, remove the lenses. Contact our team promptly if you experience pain, significant redness, discharge, light sensitivity, or changes in your vision. Depending on your symptoms, you may need emergency eye care, which our team also provides.
Where Can You Buy Costume Contacts Safely?
Places to Skip
A bag of lenses next to the face paint may look convenient. But contact lenses need to fit your eyes properly, and buying from an unlicensed seller can put your eye health at risk. Avoid purchasing costume contacts from:
- Halloween stores and novelty shops that sell lenses without requiring a prescription
- Street vendors, salons, and convenience stores that don’t require a prescription
- Websites that don’t ask for a prescription
What to Look For
Choose contact lenses from a seller that requires a valid prescription. Our eye doctors can help you find properly fitted lenses and guide you toward appropriate options for your Halloween look.
How Do You Care for Costume Contacts?
Good habits can help protect your eyes from the first photo to the last dance. Keep these contact lens care tips in mind:
- Wash and dry your hands before you insert or remove your lenses.
- Use fresh contact lens solution, never water.
- Follow the wear time recommended by your eye doctor.
- Don’t sleep in your costume lenses.
- Never share contact lenses with someone else.
Schedule a Contact Lens Fitting in Kansas City, MO
Littlefield Eye Associates offers personalized, family-focused eye care in Waldo, including contact lens exams and fittings. Whether you’re planning a costume for yourself or helping your teen put together theirs, our team can help you explore decorative contact lens options while keeping eye health in mind.
Book your visit before Halloween, and let our team help you find costume contacts that fit properly so you can focus on enjoying the fun.
