Beware costume contacts to avoid a scary Halloween from freeamfva's blog

If you're trying to freak out your friends by wearing eerie-looking red contact lenses as part of your zombie Halloween costume, or any contacts that change the shape or color of your eyes, medical experts have some scary warnings.To get more news about colored contacts, you can visit beauon.com official website.

They say decorative contact lenses that are marketed and sold without prescriptions can cause serious eye infections or, in some cases, blindness.

"It's extremely concerning," said Joseph Calderone, an ophthamologist at Better Vision New Jersey, based in Cranford."Every Halloween, we see these costume contacts marketed as a fashion accessory. I've even seen signs that say you don't need to see a medical professional for these contacts," Calderone said. "But these contacts are not medically safe. especially without an eye exam, nor are they typically FDA-approved. Both of these issues could contribute to dangerous infections, perhaps permanent vision loss, or even corneal transplants."To get more news about colored contacts prescription, you can visit beauon.com official website.

Calderone said non-prescription contact lenses can cause scratches and open sores in the protective layer of the cornea, and ophthalmologists have seen this lead to painful bacterial infections that can cause patients to go blind.To get more news about colored contacts non prescription, you can visit beauon.com official website.

He cited a recent study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Journal of Eye & Contact Lens, which found that wearing costume contact lenses drastically increased the risk of contracting keratitis -- a serious infection that causes an ulcer in the eye. The risk, the study found, is more than 16 times higher than it is for people who wear FDA-approved, medical contact lenses.Sixty percent of patients who developed keratitis while using decorative contact lenses suffered permanent vision loss, Calderone said. Another study recently found chlorine and other dangerous chemicals inside the packaging of non-prescription contact lenses.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration agrees that decorative contact lenses -- sometimes called "costume contacts," "fashion contacts" or "colored contacts" -- are dangerous. They also are illegal to sell without a prescription, because contact lenses are medical devices regulated by the FDA.

In a consumer alert the FDA issued on this subject, the agency notes that decorative contacts are not one-size-fits-all.

"An eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear," the FDA notes. "A poor fit can cause serious eye damage," including scratches on the cornea, corneal infection, conjunctivitis (better known as pink eye), decreased vision, or blindness.

The bottom line, experts say, is although it might look cool to sport bright red vampire eyes or green cat-shaped eyes for Halloween, trick-or-treaters should avoid decorative contact lenses -- unless they consult with an eyecare professional, get a prescription and follow the proper procedures for cleaning, disinfecting and wearing the lenses.