Decorative Contact Lenses: The Risks

Decorative and cosmetic contact lenses, which either accentuate eye colour or add a special effect, have been increasing in popularity recently. However, the FDA in the United States of America has given a list of warnings on their website about this latest trend.

Just like regular contact lenses, you should always get a prescription for your decorative lenses – never buy them from a street vendor, a beauty supply store or novelty store. Some of their top recommendations for making a purchase include:

Visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an examination before wearing decorative lenses, even if you think that your vision is fine.

Avoid anime character-style lenses, which have not received official approval. These lenses are usually bigger to give a ‘wide-eyed’ look.

Follow the care instructions for cleaning and disinfecting your lenses.

Don’t share your lenses with anyone else. Although this might be tempting if somebody wants to borrow your lenses for a special event, it is not advised as it can cause infection in extreme cases.

The FDA also lists some of the risks that are involved in wearing any type of contact lens if you do not follow the advised guidelines. These include: corneal abrasions (cuts or scratches to the top layer of your eyeball); allergic reactions such as itchiness or redness; decreased vision and infection.

Any of these signs should be examined by an eye doctor immediately.

Of course, there are many benefits to wearing contact lenses, and decorative ones can be fun and used without any problems – but only if these cautionary measures are taken.