Cosmetic and Special Effect Halloween Contact Lenses

Special effect contact lenses also known as Halloween Contact Lenses, Theater Contact Lenses, and Cosmetic Contact Lenses, see their demand increase during Halloween and New Year’s Eve. During August, September, and October the demand for eye exam appointments increase because of the school entrance, however, no or very few appointments require eye assessment and cosmetic contact lenses fitting.

Cosmetic contact lenses: brown, blue, gray, green, vampire eyes, cat eyes, or devils eyes are all considered as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), therefore they should never be bought online, from street vendors, beauty saloon, flea market, or Halloween store. Like any prescription contact lenses, they need to be prescribed by an eye care professional. If lenses are bought without a prescription or not used properly, they can cause a scratched cornea, irritated watery red-eye, decrease in visual acuity, infection, which could lead to blindness.

To avoid risks of complications, it is very important to consult an eye professional to prescribe the right lens and to remind patients of the cleaning and disinfection process of each lens on a daily basis.

Just like transparent medical contact lenses, Halloween contact lenses should not be bought without a prescription, should not be shared with another person, and should not be worn if the patient’s eye is red.