Doctors: Costume Contacts Can Cause Big Problems
BOSTON (CBS) -- When Halloween season rolls around, you expect to see your fair share of ghosts and goblins. A new trend, popularized by pop stars like Lady Gaga, could have you giving some wild eyes to people on Halloween, but they could be dangerous if you wear them.
The huge cartoonish looking eyes can help you look like anything from a wild animal, to a zombie, to a robot. The trend took off over the summer after Lady Gaga used them in her "Bad Romance".
The look is cultivated by using over-the-counter cosmetic contact lenses. The lenses are not prescribed and their usage could lead to major problems including serious eye infections.
"One size does not fit all. However, in the wild eyes it only comes in one size so that's a problem," said Dr. Carol Karp. "An infection in the cornea is a very unpleasant thing to have because it is very painful and then in addition, the infection can cause scarring on the cornea which will permanently block your vision."
Federal law requires a prescription for contacts, even the decorative ones. But, one shopper found the lenses at a mall selling for $38.50. The store clerk said a prescription wasn't necessary to buy them, even though one is required for regular contact lenses.
It turns out the decorative contacts were made in Korea and came with no instructions or warnings how to safely wear them and use them.
The Food and Drug Administration said decorative contacts can be a safe, fun part of Halloween, but selling them without a prescription is against the law and dangerous. They are openly sold online and are hot sellers at some clothing and novelty stores.
The FDA said it's up to parents and Halloween party-goers to make sure if they want to get "costume contacts" for their eyes to do it through a licensed eye specialist and only use FDA-approved products after being instructed how to safely wear and sanitize them.
